Patrick Evans is a Christchurch novelist, playwright and academic. Described by Bill Manhire as ‘a brilliant piece of ventriloquism’, Evans’ novel Gifted is an impressive imagining of emerging writer Janet Frame’s first meeting and early writing days spent with her mentor Frank Sargeson – ‘the father of New Zealand fiction’.

Evans is also the author of The Penguin History of New Zealand Literature; a critical study of Janet Frame’s fiction An Inward Sun; and a biography, Janet Frame. He has taught New Zealand literature at the University of Canterbury since 1978. Patrick was joined in conversation by Kate De Goldi.