"At Hiruharama" is acclaimed English author Penelope Fitzgerald's short story first published as a part of her short story collection entitled The Means of Escape, which was first published in 2000, when Fitzgerald was 84. Fitzgerald's short story tells the story of the Tanner couple, who live in the countryside of New Zealand. One night, the Tanners invite their neighbors (who live nine miles away), to dinner. But Mrs. Tanner is pregnant and begins to give birth on the night they have dinner. Still, Mr. Tanner tells readers about the history of his family, who were British immigrants that arrived in New Zealand and created a home far away from anyone else—including the Māori (or indigenous) people and their neighbors. The short story explores themes related to colonialism, community, value, and moving upwards in society.
During her career, Fitzgerald won the Booker Prize, something which few other authors have won. The reviews for "At Hiruharama," as well as the reviews for The Means of Escape (the collection that "At Hiruharama" was a part of), reflected Fitzgerald winning the Booker Prize. In their review of the collection, Publisher's Weekly called Fitzgerald "brilliant" and wrote that the collection is "Crisp, with the economical suggestiveness of poetry, these stories will be treasured by Fitzgerald's readers who will, however, mourn the lack of information about their chronology."
The short story also touches on the idea of the "pioneer spirit" that allowed the Tanners to start a new life in a foreign land. While the Tanners were able to make a good life for themselves in New Zealand, they were still removed from any real connection with the native Māori people. This theme is reflected in the fact that the Tanners' neighbors, who are Māori, are nine miles away. The contrast between the Tanners' success and the Māori people's difficulty in maintaining their culture and traditions is explored in the story.
The story also includes a discussion of how to measure success. The Tanners are proud of their accomplishments and the fact that they can now provide for their family in a way that was not possible in England. Yet, despite their apparent success, the Tanners still feel disconnected from the larger world. This disconnection is illustrated in the story through the fact that the Tanners' neighbors are nine miles away, symbolizing their lack of connection to the community around them.
Ultimately, "At Hiruharama" is a story about the difficulties of adapting to a new culture and trying to find meaning in a place that is far away from one's home. The story reflects Fitzgerald's struggles as an English émigré and her exploration of themes related to colonialism, community, value, and moving upwards in society. It is a powerful story that speaks to the universal experiences of immigration, adaptation, and success.
