Joyce Tarlton West (1908-1985)

Joyce West, an impressive author of teenage adventure books, passed away on February 21, 1985, at the age of 75. She died in her hometown at the Tauranga Hospital following a prolonged battle with cancer. Throughout her more than 40-year career, Joyce garnered international recognition for her work, rivalling even esteemed author Margaret Mahy with regard to television adaptations. Her 1970 book, 'The Sea Islanders', secured television rights from Walt Disney Productions and was broadcast as a five-part serial on the BBC. The book was also featured in Foyle's Book Club, translated into multiple languages, and saw various reprints and editions, including an American one by Roy Publishers and a special school edition by Scholastic Magazines.

The Japanese translation of 'The Sea Islanders', richly illustrated, was published in 1979 by J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., in partnership with Charles E. Tuttle of Tokyo, and the Japanese firm Akana Sholes. Despite initial rejections by publishers, West's first book, 'Drover's Road', published by Dent in 1953, received positive reviews and multiple reprints. She continued to publish several more books, including 'Year of the Shining Cuckoo' (1961), 'Cape Lost' (1963), and 'The Golden Country' (1965), all by Dent, before her health declined. Her final book, 'The River Road', was published in 1980.

Though born in Auckland, she lived in a modest cottage on 18th Avenue, Tauranga. Her parents, both educators in remote Māori schools, cultivated her love for books and language. Her father, who had spent his younger years in India and Southeast Asia, was a storyteller and avid reader. Her mother often read to her, fostering an early appreciation for literature.

Over her career, Joyce West was quite the international star with respect to teenage adventure literature, gaining more global recognition than many of her New Zealand contemporaries. Her stories, which often drew on her love for her homeland, continue to captivate readers despite shifts in popular themes to futuristic, technological narratives. The work of this humble Tauranga writer stands as a testament to her storytelling abilities, ensuring her place in the annals of literature for young readers.