Patrick Evans's new novel Gifted, his first in 21 years, attempts the daunting task of reinventing the mysterious riddle of this gifted writer, in particular, a crucial period of her creative blossoming when she lands on the Takapuna doorstep of another New Zealand literary icon, Frank Sargeson, the self-proclaimed "father of a nation's fiction". This is familiar territory for Evans, whose academic publications have focused on the history of New Zealand literature, and, in particular, the work of Janet Frame.

But Gifted is sheer imagining, which allows Evans linguistic elasticity and creative freedom. He unravels the story of Janet living and working in the army hut nestled in Sargeson's backyard, a place that has provided occasional habitation for friends,