Jerningham

by Cristina Sanders

Edward Jerningham Wakefield was the wild-child of the Wakefield family that set up the New Zealand Company to bring the first settlers to this country. His story is told through the eyes of bookkeeper Arthur Lugg, who is tasked by Colonel William Wakefield to keep tabs on his brilliant but unstable nephew.

As trouble brews between settlers, government, missionaries and Māori over land and souls and rights, Jerningham is at the heart of it, blurring the line between friendship and exploitation and spinning the hapless Lugg in his wake.

Alive with historical detail, 'Jerningham' tells a vivid and important story of Wellington’s colonial beginnings and of a charismatic young man’s rise and inevitable fall.

Genres: Historical Fiction

398 pages, Paperback

Published June 20, 2020

About the author

Cristina Sanders is an historical novelist, book reviewer and trail runner who grew up in Wellington and now lives in Hawke’s Bay.

She is a volunteer crew member for the Spirit of Adventure Trust, and a board member of the New Zealand Society of Authors.

Reviews

[Christine Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you live in Wellington and enjoy history you will enjoy this book.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

What interested me most about this book was the account of the settling of New Zealand: about arriving here after weeks at sea, expecting a colony, only to discover there’s only a few tents pitched at the edge of the beach and you will have to build the colony. The fictional story of Arthur Lugg and his colonial experiences helped give insight into current NZ race relations, seeing the early settlers interaction with Maori, the activities of both missionaries and the semi-scrupulous dealings of the Wakefield’s New Zealand Company, as well as the British government’s rather tenuous control. I struggled to bond with either Arthur, or the flighty Jerningham Wakefield, in the first half of the book. In fact, Jerningham was hardly in the first 100 pages. However, things did warm up emotionally in latter part of the story and it’s worth a read for the historical imagination at least. Te Rauparaha appears large on the page and the absolute fear of him by the settlers is palpable.

[Alexandra Lutyens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this book on a tramp with me and couldn't wait to get back to it each evening. The characterisation of both the emerging Wellington town and the early colonial years were well balanced and believable. The author did a great job describing Jerningham's complex character. Highly recommend to those interested in NZ history and particularly to Wellingtonians.

[Alan Isaac · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a born and bred Wellingtonian with an interest in the cities history I thoroughly enjoyed this fictional account.

[Sharlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect historical fiction with flawed characters and keeping with an accurate timeline and attitude/behaviours.

[Cheryl Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, illuminating, fascinating.

A story of a compliant man, who, by his compliance gets to be at some of the important places in Wellington's/NewZealand's history. His life is made exciting, and unhappy by Jerningham Wakefield of the famous/notorious Wakefield Company which settled many of New Zealand's colonies.

Through this story we get to see the best and the very worst aspects of colonial life and behaviour.

Sanders creates an intriguing story about people whose names are bound with Wellington, but whose character I was not really aware of. There are depressing stories relating to the fate of women in those times, interactions with famous Māori like Te Puni and Te Rauparaha, pompous and intolerant leaders and the chameleon Jerningham who displays a range of contrary behaviours.

These people come alive in this story, and make me want to know more about them. They will live in my mind now, when I drive through the streets of Wellington and visit Whanganui.

Great yarn.

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this — mainly because it was full of so many places I knew. It was a bit ominous, though, knowing the significant historical event lining up with the period in which the book is set and knowing that the two had to intersect eventually. The main character, Arthur Lugg, is hard to warm to, but luckily all his friends and colleagues, especially the two women in the story, are deep and sympathetic characters.

[Susan Wilson]

The first thing I noticed about this book is the gorgeous dense paper. It’s heavy in your hand and was just the perfect size for me for reading. Nice job Cuba Press. On the actually story, it was a great way to absorb some history. The tricky part is that I didn’t find the fictional characters and story as engaging as I would have liked, perhaps constrained by introducing the real characters. I liked it. I didn’t love it.

[Lisa Stillings · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction account of an early settlement in New Zealand. Starts in 1841, when Arthur Lugg emigrates to New Zealand, with Jerningham Wakefield. The story is told from Lugg's perspective. He recounts the challenges of settlement, sharing events impacting the Maori people, the colonists, and the missionaries. Even though it was fiction, the author indicates that the events described in the book are based upon events she found documented in journals from the time period.

[Helen Nicholson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was such a treat to have the 1840s Aotearoa come to life through this story. So immersive. To imagine what society looked like when my ancestors came to this land. And learn more about the Wakefields and politics. Really enjoyed it.

[Laurence · Rating 4 out of 5]

fascinating historical fiction about the establishment of Wellington New Zealand in 1830s and 1840s. I felt the voice of the narrator was spot on - conveying tge vales of early Victirian settlers to a "t".

loved it and will look out for her second. novel.

[Anne Matheson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice mix of the history of Wellington and early New Zealand the fictional relationship between Arthur and Jerningham, Arthur and his wife Dorothy and Arthur and his old flame , Ada

[Peter Gerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging take on early colonial Wellington

[Carly Vevers · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5

[Jo-Lynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sanders artfully fleshes out the tensions surrounding the first colonies in NZ. She heightens the drama further by portraying betrayals both large and small between all of the players.