ADAMS, ARTHUR HENRY (1872-1936) was born in Lawrence, the son of C. W. Adams (q.v.), educated at Wellington College, the Otago Boys' High School (1886-92) and Otago University. He graduated B.A. in 1894 and spent three years studying law but abandoned it eagerly on being offered a position on the literary staff of the Evening Post, then edited by his uncle, E. T. Gillon (q.v.). During these years he contributed original prose and verse and he wrote the libretto of a Maori comic opera, Tapu, which was produced with success in Australia. Adams then became associated with J. C. Williamson as dramatic secretary and devoted his spare time to writing plays and pantomimes. In 1899 he published Maoriland and Other Verses. On the outbreak of the Boxer war in China he was appointed war correspondent for the Sydney Morning Herald and some New Zealand papers (1900-01). He was invalided from China with enteric fever and proceeded to England, where for the next few years he was engaged in writing and freelance journalism. He published there a volume of verse, The Nazarene 1902, and his first novel, Tussock Land 1904. His earnings from literature were, however, not adequate to maintain him and he returned to New Zealand in 1905 and became associate editor of the New Zealand Times. His bright topical columns in that paper were a feature of New Zealand journalism. In 1906 Adams published London Streets and in the same year returned to Sydney and accepted a post on the Bulletin, for which he eventually wrote the Red Page. He also worked on the Lone Hand and was for a short time editor of the Sydney Sun. In 1908 he married Lilian Paton. Among his novels were Galahad Jones 1910, A Touch of Fantasy 1912, Grocer Greatheart 1915, and Honeymoon Dialogues (published in 1911 under the pseudonym 'James James'). He wrote many full-length plays, including Mrs. Pretty and the Premier, which was successfully produced by Arthur Bourchier in London. Among his latest work was an autobiographical volume A Man's Life. Much of Adams's verse was of a very high order, notably the collections which he published while in London. His prose was particularly graceful, the product of an extremely selective and sensitive mind, which showed little diminution in quality in spite of his great output. Adams died on 4 Mar 1936.

Otago H.S. Reg.; Annals N.Z. Lit. (p); Adams, op. cit; Evening Post, 5 Mar 1936; Sydney Morning Herald, 5 Mar 1936.

Reference: Volume 1, page 18

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