References

Tu

novel by Grace

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 19, 2026

Quick Summary

The novel Tu by Patricia Grace was inspired by her father's service in New Zealand's Māori Battalion during World War II. The story reflects on the irony of Māori soldiers fighting for a country that had taken their land. Patricia Grace is a foundational figure in Māori fiction, acclaimed for her depictions of Māori culture and diversity, giving a voice to her people and revealing to the world what it means to be Māori. Her works often incorporate untranslated Māori words and have been translated into Māori and other languages.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Patricia Grace
The novel Tu (2004) was inspired by Grace’s father’s service in New Zealand’s Māori Battalion during World War II. It is, among other things, a reflection on the irony of Māori soldiers fighting, as a Māori leader puts it, “for the people who had stolen their country.”…
Read More
The novel Tu (2004) was inspired by Grace’s father’s service in New Zealand’s Māori Battalion during World War II. It is, among other things, a reflection on the irony of Māori soldiers fighting, as a Māori leader puts it, “for the people who had stolen their country.”…
Read More