The Half-Gallon Quarter-Acre Pavlova Paradise
Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox book The Half-Gallon Quarter-Acre Pavlova Paradise<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> was a popular book by Austin Mitchell, published by Whitcombe and Tombs (Christchurch, 1972), with illustrations by Les Gibbard. It provided a witty, satirical description of life in 1960s New Zealand,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and Kiwi culture.
Described as "a celebrated vision of New Zealand as heaven on earth",<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> the book was a great success in New Zealand. The phrase "Half-Gallon Quarter-Acre Pavlova Paradise" soon became part of the New Zealand vernacular, with the term "quarter-acre pavlova paradise" being included in the Dictionary of New Zealand English.<ref>Template:Cite book.</ref> Mitchell revisited New Zealand 30 years after writing his original volume, and motivated by the social changes he observed, he penned a sequel entitled Pavlova Paradise Revisited.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Terminology
- "Half Gallon", popularly called the "Half G", was the standard size of a flagon of beer then sold in New Zealand pubs
- "Quarter Acre" referred to the ubiquitous suburban section of land on which most Kiwis built their homes
- "Pavlova", a popular New Zealand dessert