Challenging discourses in Allen Curnow's oeuvre

233 Pages·2012·2.17 MB·English

by  Norgate, James

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ChallengiDnigs courses
in
AlieCnu rnow'ose uvre
A dsisertaptrieosne innpt aertdfi uaflli lment
oft hree qieurmetnsf otrh dee geero f
DoctoofPr h isloophy
inE nghl is
atM asysU enivseirtNye,wZ ealand
JameNsor gate
1997
11
ABSTRACT
AliCeunnr owh abse epnu blipsoheitfnryogm r o rteh asnid xe cadHesisc .r itical
wriintgssp aanb ohuatfl cae tnurya,n ads a n anthoilfnoulgeinsctteh dpeh o es t-WWoarrl d1 1
genaetrioofNn e wZ ealanda nprdoe eatdseL ressw.se lkln owtno diashy i esa rvleyr se,
oftpeunlb isuhneddte hrpe s eudoJnulyimah snis ,o csiaatlip rulebi,s uhneddte hrne o md e
guerreW hiWmh ama,n d dhriasm a.
Itnh tihse Isr iesae dx ampflreosm r nCouwo'esue vf rromd iaa lpoegsripce ctive.
TheB akhstcihnlo 'doasil iosgamll owasr edaintghda itf fferroesma irelarp apirlsosaf
Curnoww'osri ktn htia hti lghihtgtsh ceo nifcoltfis deolwohgiicreheis sd ient htee xTtsh.e
Bakthinciaarinvn easlquael,su os eidtn h sitsu adllyo,wf soa rn ewi nterproeftt haet ion
funcotfsi uobnv ieorinswn h amta nhyav ev iewaesad r elatciovneevniltoyn paole t's work.
Previroeuaigsdns h avet endeedm ptlotoa rydi ticorniattlih ceraoialen sad r e predominantly
histoTrhiecayal lsl.oa rgoemliwyth aItb elviete ob ei mportsaetncito onfCs ur nowo'esu vre:
thJeu ilapno emwso,r bkysW hiWmh ama ntdh pel ays.
In ChaptIoe urt ltOihntneehe e oreticoafdl il agcoiosnamtn etdxh te
carnivailwneh sciqhIhu aev pelc aed sst thuidCyh.a pTtweorl ooaktCs u rnowj'usvi elnia
anedx ampflreotsmh vee rhseep uibslhaesJd uliamnu,c hw hoifhc ahrs me anied
unelxrope.dI nCh atpeTrh rIed ei scCuusnrso wp'ose try cotlhlahetepc utbsilhoeinddsui rng
th1e39 0sa,n Cdh aptFeourrl ooakths i pso etpruybh leibdse twe1e49n1 a1n69d2 I. n
ChapFtievrIee xa mienxea mpflreoCsmu r nowm'osrr ee cepnote tpruyb,l issnihce1ed 79 2.
ChapStiedxri scuCsusrenso w's socWihailW mhs aamtv eirrsaeen,,rd et phree stehnet s
frisctr itsitcuoadftly h ewsoer kCsh.a pSteevred ne awlistC hur nowp'usbs lhiepdl ays,
whihcahv e maolssteols yc apcerdi taipcparlaa inshdaa lvb,ee epne rforomneyldr aroenl y
stagIenC. ha ptEegirh Itp rovaid daiel orgeiaicdn ogfC unrowo'wsnl t iercarryi twirncigatlsi .
Ic onclmuysd teu wdiytt rhhe aep pendainci ensd:eC xu nrtoow c'osn bturtiitootn hs1e 39 0s
perioTdomiocrawrl,oa c hecktloWi hsitWm h ama,n d ianndt eoWx h iWmh am's
contritbout thNieeo wnZ esa laLnids tener.
iii
ACKNOLWEDEGMETNS
Ia mi nedbtteodm yc hiseuefp rvis,A osrsocPioraftees JsoohrNn e dehafmo,hr i s
quieatn pdr ofieosnssaulp ptohrtr ougmhydo ouctt roersaela prrcohj ect.
Mys ecosnudep rvisoDrrW, i llBioraumgt hno,de servaes sp eicamle ntfirooh ni s
enthsumsw ihaiyceha argsio n stiinmle la el do voef NZeewa llaintde rHaeth uarbsee .c ome
af riwehnodh agse noeursslhyea drh is ktniomwel, eadngpdee r sorneaslo urces.
Iw istho thMaasnske yiv Uernfsopirrtv oyi dmienw gi taDh o ctoSrchaolls ahrip,
withwohuitIcc ho uldh anvuoent d ertatkhsesi nt udy.
Fniayl,Ila md eepglarytf eutlom yc hdirlefnrop atiesnhtanlrgsyi o moeft hbeu dren
theset hpeareys eta rasnt,do myM ciwhifefelo lhree s rup poartn idt nellectual
compiaonnship.
TABLOEF C ONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOLWEDGEEMNT_S__________________________i__i_i_ _______________________________________________________
ITNRODUTCIO_N_ ___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________
CHAPTEORN EA:s peocftD si alo_g_i_s__m__________________________________________ ____8____ ___________
CHAPTETRWO :C unrowJ,ul iaanndT omor_r_o_w.______________________2__3__ _____________________ _
CHAPTETRHR EEE:a rPloye t1r39y3t: o 1 39_9·-·------·----·---------·--·-·-- -3---9-- --·-·-·-----··
CHAPTEFRO UR: MTdihdelY ee arPso:e tfrryo1 m49 1t o1 69_2_________5_8_ ________________
CHAPTEFRI VCEur:n owP'ose tfrryo1 m79 2__ ·_-·_·· -·--·---·-----·--------·--·-·-··---7---8--- ·----·
CHAPTESRI XW:h iWmh ama ndS ocSiaatl.i ...r..e... .............................. 1..21.. ..........
CHAPTESREV ENC:ur notwh Pel yawgrhit___________________________1__9_4_ _____________________ _______
CHAPTEERI GTH:T imaen da cPeLl:ir taerCyr it_i_c_i_s_m_ ____________1___57__ __ __________________
CONLCUSI_O_N_ __________________________________________________________ 2___0___5__ ______ ___________________________
Append1iI:d xne txo CurCnoonwt'rsi tboTu otmioorrn_o _w___________2_0_8_ _______________________
Appen1d1i:ex cC khtl iRoseff eenrcteosW hiWmh a_m_________________2__12__ _______________________
AppenIdlIildnxe: x WthoiW mh amC'osn tribtuott hiNeoe wnZ sea iaLnids ten2e1r_5__ _
WORKSC ONSUTLE·D---------------------------------------·-···------··----------·---2--19-- ------------------·
1
ITNRODUCTION
Byt hwea yI,h ando noeft heisedea swh iIlw ea sw rittihneg poIwe amst, o o
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AliCeurnn ow9 9(01)
AliCeurnn owa cicse pttoeddaa syo noef t he girnfeo tatht ge,er ateNsetwZ, e aland
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poetHse.w asb orTnh omAals iMeunno Cr urnoiwn1 191iTn imaSrouu,Ct ahn rtuberyt,h e
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soonf a nA nlgicvainc aHrew. orkaesad c adreetp ofrtoetrrh C eh rcihscuthrS unw hile
atntdeiCnagn rtubeyrU nviesriCtoyl lpeagrte- tiinm 2e19a 9n1d 390b,e fodrecei dtioen ngt er
thAen lgicmaiinns tornay s choslhaifroptr h ryeeea artts h e CoolfSl tJe oghen the
EvagneilsattM, e adowbiaAnnu kc klTahnidis.n cltuwdyoee da frlus-l'mt eiu niveirtssyt uadty
AucklUanvniedir tsCyo elglew,h eeCr urnopwu bhleihdsi fssi tpr oemsK iiwtnih ,e i vueinrtsy
maganzeei,di taetdt htei mbeyJ amesB ertraImn1. 39 2-h3i3ps o emasp peeadir nP hoexn i
alongssucihNd eew Z ealwarnidt aesBr esrt raCmh,a rBlaresshc ,D' cAyr eCsrsewlAl.,R .D.
Fabiurnr,R obHiynd aen,Rd . A.MKao.sn C.u rnorwe jetchtCeehd ruc h aav so catiino n
1394e,v entruteaulrlntyi oCn hrgic shtcuhrw herheeb ecaamr ee prtoeorn T heP resisn
1395H.o wevheesr ,o ocnh nagepdo sittioto hnoasftc ab(lfeo rneeiwgssn)u - bediwthoeerr ,
her emaitni1el49dl8 a ,f twehri hcehs pean ty eoanr tNheewCs h roniicnl neLd,oo n.
In1 590C urnowi tvteihdse tUeSndti atoenas C arneggarinebt e,f ojroneii ntgh e
AucklUaninvdei rtCsyo lleDgeep'asrt moefn tE nagsla l iescht iun1r 59e1,rb ecoming
associraostfseeo-iprn1 697.H ew asa wardtehde v uesnriitDyo'csto ofLr i terdaeteguerri en
1696f osri pxa peorflse i rtacrryi ti"cTihFseum t:uo rfNe e wZ ealaNnedwZ; e aland
Litteurra"eM,do"e rAnu strPaoleita"rnD y a,n"coeft hSee saon"sT,h"Ee x patter",iA"Ta i me
1
PetSeirm psfooenrx, a mpcloem,m enac1 e89d6a naly"sAilCsiu:er nno awn Jda meK.sB axtaerre
byg enecroanls entshtuews o miomspto rtfainegtsu rNienw Zealanbdo taphsop eoteratyns,d
crit(i"c'sTT"rh ieoc fSk t andUipnrgiA glhitCe'un:r nowJ aamneKd.s B axt3e6r9." ) dAe caedaer lier,
TherGerashaa imn trohdeubrci eibdol graofpC huyrn oww'osr k"sA:lC iuenrno wi sun questai,io fn ably
not m'atjhNoeer'wZ , e alpaoned(t 91"7 6i:n trno.pd a.g,. ).
2
BiogradpehtiaocifCal ulrs n oiwnt h siesc tairodenar wnl agrelfyr oAml aRno ddi1c9k8c'0rs i tical
stuodfty h peo e(tA liCeunrn o5w9 0-)6.
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foSrow inagn,dC"o aFllt a( 9164.)TheU niverosfi tCya ntceornbfuearyrn rh eodn orary
DoctoofLr e ttdeergsro ene Cnouwri n1 795a,n hde r etifrreotdmh U eni vseirotfAy u kcland
in 716.9
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Curnoiwps rairmirleyn owansea pd o eatn ldti ercarryi Hteip cu.b hleihds ifssi tr
colleocfpt oieominsn S e ptem1b39e3tr ho rugthh Aeu cklUaninvde rCsoiltlySe tugdeent s'
AssociParteisoVsanl. l oeyfD ecisiilsoa nr gaec loyl leocftt hipeoo ne mCsur nopwu ibslhed
in KPihwoie,na inxAd rt i nN ewZ ealanadn,d vtolhmuee 'tsi tflreot,mh Oel dTe tsamebnoto k
ofJ oe(l:3 1)4c,a ptutrhdeeis nv iisttyu decnrtio'sfsi sfp airiottrohh i lse avtihntegh eoclaolg i
collHegisese. c opnubdl iciant1i 39o5Pn,o etaryn d gLuaangies, n siifgifcotarwn rote asons:
iitsh iesa rlpiieesoctfce r itwirciatalin nidgt , tshabewe ginonfCi unnrgo wl'osn ags sociation
witDhe nGiolsv earn d Ctahxet Porne sCsun.ro wt eamuepdi tnh sea myee awri tGhol ver
anAd. R.FDab.iu rnrt op ublAinosthh Aerrg Toh:r ePeo emfsrm o thCea xtColnu Pbre ssa,n d
hanso cte aspeudbs lhiinnegwp oetorrcy ol lecteeddi toifpo ernvsui solpyu bliwsohrieknd
4
thmeo rteh asnit xyy esas ricne.
Aftreterun rintogC hricshtcuhri n1 395a ndp ubliPsoheitnryg and LCaunnrgouwa ge,
alsboe gawnrt iirnegv ifeowTrshe P resasn edl wsheeer,s ooens btlaishhiismneagls fa
liatyrec rriwthiocsi en fluiessn tfcieell Cltu n.ro wI'tnsr odutcoAt Biooonok fN ewZ ealand
Vers1e9 23-c4o5n fihrimrsee dp utian1t 4i95oa nst hciosnu trpyer'-se nmeinlti treywr raiter
an,dd espiinttee cnosnoetv reristnyw doe cadfeosl loiwtpisun bcgal tiitohnea,st sarye mains
semitnota hlse t uodfy NZeewa lpaonedt Crhya.r Dloeyswl reo t1e6 9i6"n,C runohwa s
proviudswe idto huo rnl cyi rtiiscsmo f aartt hcer eatciovnecleyp( taouspa plo steotd h e
analylteivc(eamSlla")lP lr ohpetasn Qdu icRke tu7rn)sW .h iploets -struccitrutirisachmla iss t
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"Checklisto noN fe wZ TehaelsLaeinstd e rSautpuprlee:Nm oe1.n" ,Jt o urnoafNl e wZ ealand
Liter1a2{t u1r9e91 436).:A lsli pxa pearrsie n cluindC eudmw o'cso lleocfct riiotwnir ciatlLi onogks ,
BacHka rder.
4
Indeaefdt,e r fIi nihtsahdhi esd AsltiuCeduynr, n pouwb hleidEs arlDya yYs etN:e wa nd
CoelcltPeode m1s9 41-1{9A9u7c klAauncdk:lUa P,n1 d99 7)w,h iicnhc lau ddoezse nne wp oems
underh etahde"i TnhgGe a moef T ag{9 1899-917T)h.e"s e adpdoietmaisro en adnlio stc uisnms ye d
stuadlyt,h oIhu agvhie n cltuhdbeeo do iknm y" WorCkosn sulatr eedv"io;eft w h beo obkyV incent
O'Sulalniadvg aenn earrtailoc nlC eu rnobwyG ordMocnl aucahrlaeal nsl oi sttheedr e.
3
morreee cntmloyv ecdo ncepbtouuanld afroirweasrP de,tS emirp soanc curgaatgueelsy
Cunrowc'ostn inuiimnpgo rtaintnch feei eld:
Cunrowc'rsi triecmiasaimc n ostn inupioniognfr t fe ereintnch ele i terary
mioccrosimnr e lattowi hoinac lhnl e w arirnvieivtaallbsol cyta hteem selves
itnh per ocoefds isf ferdeennftiiintaghle oliwyrnc ritpiotcsiaiol( nosLo.k
BacHka rdxexiri)
Curnoiwls eswesl klno wfnoh riw sr itiionnt ghse re s.gH eenw rroatc eo upolfe
shoprti ecoefps r ofsiecn t,nio dotsi cussitne hds itsu ddyui,rn tgh 1e39 05s C.u nrowi sk nown
toh avwer itstiexan y pbsle twetehmnei -d109s4a nlda 1te69 0sf,i ovfwe h iwcehr e
performberdo aodrca alostuthg,oh n oef t heisisen expldiorcpapbefldry oh mi 1s79 2
colleFcoutrPi loan.y A snyc ritaitctaelnt thpielo anry esc eiitnvh efe u etw uirmlolr per obably
beb ecauosfte h eaiurt shhoirrpa tthhearfn ot rh eoiwrns ,o mewtlh iatmeidm,ei rts;
noneetlhetshse,ry e maais ni fgincicaonntt ribCuutnrioowno' estu ova rneid,n stthuidsy
amprleyp tahyee f foofart c loesxea mination.
Curnowwr optoee yta rnldi ght tvhe1er39 s0ews h iinhc ehp ulbhiesidan n umbeorf
6
perdiiocsaulcsah sT omorrTohweb. e sotft hejsueev nilwirai,titne nm caansyue snd etrh e
pseudoonfJy ulmni ,aweircneo raptoeridtn ot hpeo eyts requenCcurensop wu lbisdhuerdi ng
th1e39 0ss,o metiamfethsee ra veydi tionrcg o nsidreerwarobiklnegY .et w,i the oxnceep tion
-CollePcoteemd1s 9 33-1(997137 4-)aleld itoifCo unrsn owc'osl leocrst eecldte epdo ems
begiwni thshic ollepctulibiodsna hsfe t1e49r0 T.h ipsr essetnuthd oyw,e vjeoria,nn s
appeanrtrleyc entb ytc rreitntodir cesvC iusrinto wht'ihse mrtaogr iniasleeda rvleyr asned
poetaryn,td o aemxiansep eocftt hsde e veloopfmt ehpneot e ats, lwalesh is processes of
poectoimc posaivtaiioltnah obrulgelh a tveerr sioofh niessa rvleyr se.
Onel arsgeec toifCo unr noowe'uesvt rhahtab se evnrti uailglnyeo dbr ya lclr itics
anedv ebnyC unrowh imfsi eshl isso csiaatli Froear.b otuhtti yyr eafrrso tmh lea 1te39 0s,
Curnopwu bleidss ahtvierrisce vsa riinnoe uwss psao pnea wr eekblayis s, faofnruod ry e ars
duirnWgo rWladr 1 i1 nt hNee wZ ealaLnids teanluelndr e,tr h e dneop ml umoefW him
5 SeAep penIfd oirrxe rfeencteo"s AB adL ivaenrd" "DWarya tAohT f.a le."
6
I use ttehre"m j uvewniitlhipoaruu"etd j icael,t homuignhdt fhuaCltu morwe fetrori etad sa
"disasrumtbiint(gloC ell"e cPtoeedm 1s9 339-713x ii).
4
WhamF.i vceo lleocftt ihsoeeWn hsi Wmh amv ersweesra el spou blibsehtewde1 e49n0a nd
1697Y.e ta,p art aff reopwma ssrienrfgee ncoenslt,yw s oe ribouuts cbormimetefan roife s
WhiWmh amv'esr se bheaepvnue b hlei.dTs hceh apotneW rh iWmh ami tnh tihse istsih se
fsitr deetxaamiliaentdio ofCn ur nows'osc siaaetla i srp aortf h iose uvre.
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AliCeurnn ohwa bse edni scubsysv eidrty ue avlelNrye wZ eallaintde crraiarytt i c
leaisnpt a ssinagn,id nm ancya saetsg relaetn gCtrhi.t iocfC iusrmnm oawyb ed iviidtneod
therec aetgorniuemsoe:ur gse naelsr tudoifCe usnr owp'ose yta rncdr ittihcoautl gn rhgaing
frotmh eex celtloe nitdtnhi ef femraennryte ,v iaenwddsi csusosniosfC urnowid'nisv idual
collectaigoanvisanryn igi qnu laiatnyad,f ew excpeubllliesinhntet de rvwiietCwhusr now.
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Them orsei fgincioaftn hte asrele i sbtyJe odh Tnh omsionn bhiibsl pihocigaerlna yto rn
Cunrowi nTh eO xfordH itsoryo fN ewZ ealaLnidt er(a91t9u:1r6e -5 512w)i,ta bh i recfri iqtue
idnicattihgneeg n aetlre noofr eaWchhim.lo es hta vpeal yeadtl eassotm pea rti snh aping
my idietnah spi,rs e ssetnutIdf yuo nsde vetroba elp artuilclaiyrf nluenIft oiuaPnled.t er
Smipsonin'tsr odtuoCc urtnioown1' 89s7L ooBka cHka rdCerrci:at Wliri tgis1n 935-1t9o84
beo noeft he mlouscatic dc ouonfCt ursn owW'elst bainlwdd,h iacshs ismtete ocd l iafmryy
owna rgeunmtisnC h aptEegirh tS.t ephHeanm il1t9o96nU 'nisv erosfAi utcyk lPahnDd
thes"iNwse Z,e alEanndg lLiansghu aPgeer iodoifLc iatleIsrt naeryr Aecstti 1v29e0 s1-690s,"
proviendv alfuoairbtd lsee t arielseedaa rnccdho mmernyt,pa articoulfa Jtruhllyepi oaent ry
pubhleibdsy C unrowi nTo morrowa,n fdo ramb si blaipohgibrcaaclk dtroo pC haTpwto.e r
laWne dder'esv ieTwre eosEf,ff iigeMso,v iOnbgj cetasn Md acDonJaaclkds on's
"Consvaetrwiiotnh CAurlnioewbn,o "tp hu bliisn1h 79e3dr, e matihonen lsye riaotutse mpts
tod iscWuhsisWm h amsc' ontritboCu urtnioowon'e su vArlet.h otuhsgeoch i saalt iirnsi ostt
thcee ntraolfd itsocpuiiscns ieocinat shteeh,rte w eox cerpportvE:siu: ds erfeufle rpeonnitces
fomry d ialroegaiidncog fW hiWmh amv'esr seCsh aipnSt iexr.
My tihdsei sffferropsmr evicoruists itcuadblie ecsa uIps oesA iltiC eunnr ow aa s
suvberswirvietT ehric.sa bne s hown bteto h e catshfeeo umiarni gne nroefhs i osu tput,
nameploye tsrya,t vierrisdcer ,a maan cdr itwirncigatlsiA . r eaidnogf rCnuow's wao rk from
5
lattwee ntcieentthpu-oryio nfvt i eswu ggestthsa dti nsact stit rasiunvb eorfs eixoinis nht is s
oeuvHroew.e vieitrps ,r obanbosltuy pr riinstgh Catun rows'usvb esrivenheasnsso b te net he
foucso fp revicoruista itncttoeainlg, i vtehnaC tur nocwr eaftoehrdis meald fo mniant role
witNheiwnZ eallatinedr caicrylr ehsaa lc fe nyta ugraon fduo ghth arfdos re vedreacla dteos
defeanndd maihsnic traiitni cal Fpurtrheesremnhocirceser. ,i tics weywr oer koibnvgi ousl
frmo wtihtihnse a mcer itpioclaialtn,is dco aclci mlaailt ierr,e speocfth iovwte h erye garded
his stHaonwceevw.eh re,Ln e iDgahv -iasmonogt he-wrhsoc o-edtihtfeeuo -dri ssue
magzainAen d(9 183-e8v5ne)t,u amlolvye do nbtedry daiticorniatblio cuaanrldi ietnsh e
1890asn adp plpioesdt -mcordietrtenoCr urinao wp'ose thryi,as p oparhc,n aturaallsloy ,
chaelnlgetdhw eo rokfp reovuicsr itics.
Ino rdteolr o csautbev erwsiitCohunin rno ww'osr Ikh ,a vaep plieoda cahpferpsor m
the tBiaskncoh howlh,i aclhl oarw esai dnogfs ubverwshiiiocnnsho bta seodnb ianry
opptoisoiAncsc.od rintgoB aknh'tdsii almoodgeicl , itnoo poprodsseoerm t ehionngme, u st
alscoo nsttrhuwachtti ocnhwe i shteoos p potsheia,ts t ,ho ep posaendtd h oep pionsrgei sde
simtualnuesyoli tnh tee xWti.tt hh e ohfBe alkpth intihaenot rhyo,cs oen struccatbnie o ns
reacdo nrcruenCturlnyo.w s'osc siaatlvi erriiscmse o sotb viopursoldyui cnoe pdp ostiot ion
ar eceivedH owvieevtweh.rde ,i almoogdieecnl a btlhepesr ocessseuvsbe rosfti obo en
dicsoverienCd ur nowp'ose tdrrya,ma an cdr itwirciatalil nsgBosa. k hutseidnd ialotgoi sm
examitnhmeee dieEvuoarple apnh enomeonfco anr nfiovramltu,il inatglts iea ryra ppltiicoan,
the icvaasrlqneuiewn,h ihcihae rrchaireiesvn e rteadn eds tablishseudvb etoreradds pe arrts
ofo ngoitnegxa tlcu hlaelngEelse.m eonftt hsce a rnivsaqlumeea yb er eapda rtiacruillny
Curnowr'esc epnote try.
IV
In thiIsa ptpahld eyis ailsro egdaiicnt gos peceixfaimcp flreosm a raeloalfs
Curnowwo'rsek x,c eapc to upolfpe r opsiee chees wrotth1ee 39 0iwsnh iIcf huo ntdob e
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