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Jean Bartlett, author and poet. Died aged 94.
In 1940, Jean Bartlett was introduced to author Frank Sargeson and given a copy of his short story Conversation With my Uncle. Of that meeting Bartlett later wrote: "I had a funny, crazy conversation with Frank and I fell for his artfully, artless little stories, some of which I felt were close to poetry."
She later became Sargeson's close friend and proofreader. But she was not only known for her association with the author but for her own literary ability with her poetry appearing in several publications.
Bartlett's interest in New Zealand history resulted in The Emigrants, published in 1974 and reprinted in 1992. The book describes the passage of her great-grandparents, John and Sarah Bell of Cumberland, to New Zealand in 1842, and their life in Auckland and Ardmore. She edited and contributed chapters to Takapuna: People and Places, which appeared in 1989 and was reprinted.
In 1994, Bartlett won $10,000 worth of books in a Penguin Books crossword competition, donating part of the prize to the Takapuna Public Library.
Born Jean Alison in Devonport in 1912, Bartlett was educated at Auckland Girls' Grammar School and Auckland University. She is survived by her son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren.
