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The Bird of Paradise

I. Caveat Lector

I. Caveat Lector

The Bird of Paradise is “A Romance” divided into two parts, set in the southern United States prior to the Civil War. It was written by Dr William Henry Dutton, and published in Dunedin in 1896. In this case, the life of the author is particularly relevant to his book. At the age of approximately 21, William Dutton graduated from the University of Melbourne's Trinity College in 18791 with a Bachelor of Arts. He next went to the Royal College of Surgeons of England, from which he graduated in 18822. He returned to Australia by way of New Zealand3, and married Mary Dent Oswald in 18844. He pursued his practice in various locations in Victoria and New South Wales and later in New Zealand. His marriage produced three children; in every other respect, it appears to have been unhappy, and one of the children died in infancy. An ugly and well-publicised divorce was won by his wife, and Dutton went to New Zealand, where he lived for the short remainder of his life.

This is the most simple account of his biography; it is more sordid in the newspaper accounts of the time. It is more dramatic again in Dutton's novel, which upon examination of Dutton's life reveals itself to be his own story of the events which eventually disgraced and disillusioned him. Readers are therefore warned that the humour, while present, is dark; and the romance is a misdirection.

1 “List of Graduates.” 25 March 1879. The Argus, Melbourne, p6.

2 “Register of Medical Practitioners.” 16 January 1896. The New Zealand Gazette, Wellington, p72.

3 “Piako voyage number 4". London 17th August 1882 - Dunedin 11 November 1882. Passenger list. Held by National Archives of New Zealand, Wellington. Archives reference: IM 5/4/37, No. 480

4 “Marriages.” 13 August 1884. The Argus, Melbourne, p1.