The History of Literature 748 Katherine Mansfield (with Gerri Kimber) | The Poet and the Sex Worker Who Burgled Him | My Last Book with Emerson Expert Kenneth Sacks
Nov 10, 2025
Gerri Kimber, a literary scholar and biographer, delves into the fascinating life of Katherine Mansfield, whose writing evoked jealousy in Virginia Woolf. They discuss Mansfield's rebellious nature, her complicated relationships, and the impact of societal norms on her creative spirit. Kimber sheds light on Mansfield's mastery of modernist short stories and how her early talent paved the way for her literary significance. The conversation also touches on W.H. Auden’s unusual friendship with a sex worker and Kenneth Sacks’ choice for his last read, revealing deeper layers of literary history.
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Why Woolf Admired Mansfield
- Virginia Woolf said Mansfield's writing "was the only writing I was ever jealous of," highlighting Mansfield's unique modernist gift.
- Mansfield's compact, in-media-res short stories condensed emotional life with cinematic clarity and indirect narration.
Auden's Burglary-And-Friendship Story
- W.H. Auden maintained a long, supportive friendship with Hugo Kirka after Kirka burgled him using Auden's car in 1962.
- Auden secretly helped Kirka with legal help, money, and language lessons despite the potential scandal about same-sex relations.
Mansfield's New Zealand Origins
- Mansfield came from a rising commercial family in New Zealand and rebelled against expectations by returning to London to be a writer.
- Her early publications and cousin Elizabeth von Arnim's success helped persuade her family to let her go.
