Writer. Feminist. Influencer.

Katherine Mansfield was a writer from Aotearoa New Zealand who redefined literature with her experimental style. Her short stories, letters and journal entries have been translated into over 25 languages and her life and words still inspire people around the world today.

Join us throughout 2023 to celebrate one hundred years of her creative legacy – check out our events page for a Mansfield event near you, or find inspiration in these ideas for how to get involved in your own way.

Mansfield was born in Te Whanganui-a-Tara | Wellington in 1888 and died of tuberculosis in France in 1923. Her short life was one of a bold, creative, and intensely curious artist who defied many of the restrictions placed upon women at the time. Alongside other 20th century literary giants – James Joyce, Virginia Woolf and D.H. Lawrence – Mansfield pushed the boundaries of style, subject matter and theme in a body of work that redefined what literature could be and do. The house she was born in is now open to public as a museum.

“Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinion of others... Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth."