Gloria Jasmine Rawlinson

Gloria Jasmine Rawlinson (1 October 1918 – 25 July 1995) was a New Zealand poet, novelist, short-story writer and editor. She was born in Ha'apai, Tonga, in 1918, the daughter of Ethel Rose (Rosalie) Jennings and Alexander John Rawlinson.

Biography After arriving in New Zealand in 1924, Rawlinson was affected by the poliomyelitis epidemic with infantile paralysis. After being hospitalised for four years, she remained paralysed and using a wheelchair for her life. Despite her incapacitation, Rawlinson was responsible for the care of her mother and uncle, until they passed in 1988 and 1993 respectively. as her first poetry collection, Gloria's Book, was published in 1933 when she was between 14 and 15 years old. Rawlinson's second book of poems, The Perfume Vendor, was published in 1935. This work sold 7,000 copies and was translated into Dutch and Japanese. Hyde's son Derek Challis drew on Rawlinson's work, and The Book of Iris: A Life of Robin Hyde was published in 2002 and credited Rawlinson as a co-author.

Selected Works Rawlinson published in newspapers, literary journals and magazines throughout her life, including in the Sun and the New Zealand Herald.

Poetry Collections Gloria's Book, 1933 The Perfume Vendor, Hutchinson, 1935 The Islands Where I Was Born, The Handcraft Press, 1936 Of Clouds and Pebbles, Paul's Book Arcade, 1963 Gloria in Excelsis: a selection of poems by Gloria Rawlinson, chosen by Riemke Ensing in celebration, Pear Tree Press, 1995

Novels Music in the listening-place, 1938