Bill Pearson (New Zealand writer)

William Harrison "Bill" Pearson (1922-2002) was a New Zealand writer, literary critic, social commentator, and historian. He is best known for his novel Coal Flat, published in 1963, a landmark work of New Zealand literature that explored themes of rural life, social alienation, and the clash between individual aspirations and community expectations in a small, isolated mining town.

Pearson was born in Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island. He attended Canterbury University College, where he studied history and philosophy. After serving in World War II, he worked as a teacher and later as a lecturer in English at Auckland University.

His writing often reflected his deep concern for social justice and his critical perspective on New Zealand society. In addition to Coal Flat, Pearson wrote numerous essays, short stories, and articles on a wide range of topics, including race relations, cultural identity, and the impact of technology on society. A key work is his 1952 essay "Fretful Sleepers: A Sketch of New Zealand Behaviour," which analysed dominant characteristics of the New Zealand psyche and contributed significantly to discussions on national identity.

Pearson's work is characterized by its intellectual rigor, its unflinching honesty, and its profound empathy for the marginalized and the vulnerable. He is considered a significant figure in New Zealand literature and intellectual history. He was also a vocal critic of apartheid in South Africa, actively protesting against it. His papers are held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum Library.