Elspeth Sandys
Elspeth Sandys was born in Timaru, New Zealand and educated at Otago and Auckland Universities. She moved to the UK in 1969. She has published 9 novels ('River Lines' was long listed for the Orange prize in 1996), two collections of short stories ('Standing in Line' won the Pen International, Elena Garro prize in 2003), two memoirs ('What Lies Beneath’ and ‘Casting Off’) and has written extensively for the BBC and RNZ. She has also worked in film and tv. Her stage plays have been performed in the UK and NZ. Her most recent play 'Body Politic' played to capacity houses at Circa Theatre Wellington in 2024. In July 2019 Elspeth published ‘A Communist in the Family: Searching for Rewi Alley’ a story that combines family memoir, biography, history and travelogue. Elspeth has held a number of literary fellowships and residencies, and in 2006 was awarded the ONZM for services to literature. She now lives in New Zealand.
Rights Enquires
Recent Work
A Gap In Nature By Elspeth Sandys
Buy Here
RNZ Saturday Morning (NZ) October 2025
A rich seam of themes can be mined from Elspeth Sandys' writing. Trauma has dogged her life. "Some people go to therapy" she says. "I write."
And she certainly does! Elspeth is an award-winning author of ten novels, two memoirs, two short story collections, a book of non-fiction and twenty plays. Her last one, last year, sold out.
Elspeth's new novel A Gap in Nature reflects on the effects of war on relationships and wider society, and articulates art's power to change lives.
Interview with Guyon Espiner.
Listen Here
The Listener (NZ) October 2025
The Body Politic By Elspeth Sandys
Directed and Designed by Andrew Foster
Circa Theatre Wellington (NZ) September 2024
Weaving contemporary themes local and international, The Body Politic explores the collapse of democracy around the world in a satirical examination of lives in a Wellington apartment complex.
'Elspeth Sandys’ The Body Politic is an ingenious allegory for a political phenomenon that we have mostly observed from afar and which could keep happening. It is even possible on a national scale right here in Aotearoa NZ.
Director Andrew Foster has assembled an ideal cast who embody their roles absolutely. Each character is astutely crafted to pique our interest and prompt questions before their backstories are revealed.
The Body Politic cries out to be embraced' - John Smythe, Theatre Review
The Naked Civil Servants (Short Story) by Elspeth Sandys Published in The Reading Room
The Island (Short Story) by Elspeth Sandys Published in The Reading Room
The Camp (Short Story) by Elspeth Sandys Published in The Reading Room
Advice (Short Story) by Elspeth Sandys Published in The Reading Room
Going West Digital Festival 2020
A podcast from the 2015 Festival featuring Elspeth in conversation with Murray Grey about her memoir What Lies Beneath.
Festival director Robyn Mason describes the interview as "a very moving session and one of my personal favourites."
Nine Lives - New Zealand Writers on Notable New Zealanders (Upstart Press) 2021
New publication from Upstart Press featuring nine writers talking about the person who most influenced them as a writer. I write about Rewi Alley. Lloyd Jones writes about Paul Melser, Stephanie Johnson writes about Carol Beu … And much more Entertaining and enlightening!New publication from Upstart Press featuring nine writers talking about the person who most influenced them as a writer. I write about Rewi Alley. Lloyd Jones writes about Paul Melser, Stephanie Johnson writes about Carol Beu … And much more Entertaining and enlightening!
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