The Red Tram

by C.K. Stead

From one of New Zealand's most celebrated writers comes this poetry collection that encompasses moving memories of childhood and ruminations on horses and cows, Auckland, and even the author's own legs. These satirical poems take weapons from the writers of the past and skewer politicians of the present, and reflect on a range of international writers, including Allen Curnow, Janet Frame, and Denis Glover. With sometimes biting and often humorous poems that reference both classical Latin poets and contemporary concerns, this collection breathes with an incomparable sense of energy, speed, and force.

80 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Christian Karlson Stead is a New Zealand writer whose works include novels, poetry, short stories, and literary criticism.

One of Karl Stead's novels, Smith's Dream, provided the basis for the film Sleeping Dogs, starring Sam Neill; this became the first New Zealand film released in the United States.

Mansfield: A Novel was a finalist for the 2005 Tasmania Pacific Fiction Prize and received commendation in the 2005 Commonwealth Writers Prize for the South East Asia and South Pacific region.

C. K. Stead was born in Auckland. For much of his career he was Professor of English at the University of Auckland, retiring in 1986 to write full-time. He received a CBE in 1985 and was admitted into the highest honour New Zealand can bestow, the Order of New Zealand in 2007.