Stead

CHRISTINA STEAD (1902 - 1983)

Christina Stead, the 'dark star of Australian literature' set her only English novel, Cotter's England partly in Gateshead (called Bridgehead in the novel). She was in Newcastle in the summer of 1949, accompanied by her friend Anne Dooley (nee Kelly), a Geordie girl, who was the model for Nellie Cotter, the extraordinary heroine of the book. Anne was no doubt responsible for Stead's reasonable attempt at conveying the local accent. Her letters indicate that she had taken on Tyneside speech and become deeply concerned with the people around her.

The novelist's plan was to visit the towns round Newcastle as well, but though many of these are mentioned by name in the book - as are Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge (admiringly) and even Two Ball Lonnen in Newcastle - there is no attempt to convey the historical, cultural, industrial or even political background of the region; this is rather surprising in one so politically committed as she was. At all events, one gets none of the strong sense of place which distinguished Tyneside, nor the warmth and humour of the Geordies; her view of the region is grim and downbeat. The summer of 1949 was very hot, but the weather in Bridghead is a raw February with plenty of soot and drizzle to match Stead's vision of her characters (the revealing American title of the book is Dark Places of the Heart).

It appears that the house she stayed in was a tedious walk up the hill from Gateshead station: the Kelly family with the right names lived at 37 South Street (now demolished) opposite the school.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
CHRISTINA STEAD (1902 - 1983) Christina Stead, the 'dark star of Australian literature' set her only English novel, Cotter's England partly in Gateshead (called Bridgehead in the novel). She was in Newcastle in the summer of 1949, accompanied by her friend Anne Dooley (nee Kelly), a Geordie girl, who was the model for Nellie Cotter, the extraordinary heroine of the book. Anne was no doubt responsible for Stead's reasonable attempt at conveying the local accent. Her letters indicate that she had taken on Tyneside speech and become deeply concerned with the people around her. The novelist's plan was to visit the towns round Newcastle as well, but though many of these are mentioned by name in the book - as are Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge (admiringly) and even Two Ball Lonnen in Newcastle - there is no attempt to convey the historical, cultural, industrial or even political background of the region; this is rather surprising in one so politically committed as she was. At all events, one gets none of the strong sense of place which distinguished Tyneside, nor the warmth and humour of the Geordies; her view of the region is grim and downbeat. The summer of 1949 was very hot, but the weather in Bridghead is a raw February with plenty of soot and drizzle to match Stead's vision of her characters (the revealing American title of the book is Dark Places of the Heart). It appears that the house she stayed in was a tedious walk up the hill from Gateshead station: the Kelly family with the right names lived at 37 South Street (now demolished) opposite the school.
Return to Index	On to next Author