Books and writers
Information about the latest books and the people behind them
Literary Trials: Janet Malcolm, Narrative Journalism and the Courtroom in South Africa and the United States
2014-08-07 Writing South Africa Now: Twenty Years On is a graduate conference on South African literature that took place at the University of York, UK, in June 2014. Read Anneke Rautenbach's abridged paper, Literary Trials: Janet Malcolm, Narrative Journalism and the Courtroom in South Africa and the United States.
Drawing South Africa Now: Writing Urban Environments in the Graphic Novel Form?
2014-08-07 Writing South Africa Now: Twenty Years On is a graduate conference on South African literature that took place at the University of York, UK, in June 2014. Read Dominic Davies's abridged paper, "Drawing South Africa Now: Writing Urban Environments in the Graphic Novel Form?".
Writing South Africa Now 2014: The online edition
2014-08-07 Writing South Africa Now: Twenty Years On, a one-day colloquium on South African literature, recently took place at the University of York, UK. This week, read Sanja Nivesjö's abridged paper.
Launch: Dare We Hope? by Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
2014-08-01 Launch of Gobodo-Madikizela's new book, Dare We Hope?, 18 August at The Book Lounge.
Overview: Man Booker Prize longlist 2014
2014-07-31 "Complete whitewash for African writers as Americans join the Man Booker Prize longlist party," writes Jonathan Amid.
Reader's review: Paradise by Greg Lazarus
2014-07-30 "Expertly edited by the superb Henrietta Rose-Innes, these four voices, channelled through the authorial lens of Greg Lazarus, offer an almost musical sense of harmony and melody in a novel that hits subtle notes, tugs at the heartstrings, alternates between moments of rich light and shade, and ultimately leaves the reader with a huge grin and an urge to say 'More, more!'"
Interview: London Cape Town Joburg
2014-07-29 Jonathan Amid interviews Zukiswa Wanner about London Cape Town Joburg.
Celebrating the intellectual legacy of AC Jordan
2014-07-29 This contribution by Phil Ndlela "aims to accord Jordan his rightful place as one of the key figures in the advancement of the black literary tradition within the borders of South Africa and beyond".
Paradise by Greg Lazarus
2014-07-22 Read Donald Powers's review of the third book by “Greg Lazarus”, the husband-and-wife team of Greg Fried and Lisa Lazarus.
A tribute to Nadine Gordimer
2014-07-17 "A signature is what defines you." Karina Szczurek, who completed her PhD on Nadine Gordimer’s post-apartheid writing, writes an In Memoriam contribution and shares a personal photo of Gordimer's signature.
Review: The Unsaid by Richard de Nooy
2014-07-16 "The Unsaid is a powerful book in which everything makes sense, the humour is black where it has to be black and the characters are perfect in their imperfection."
Forged in battle by Jan Breytenbach
2014-07-08 "To hell with that, I say. Read this book, whether you're into military affairs, African history, adventure, action movies or masculine power plays. Read it."
Writing South Africa Now 2014 – Photos from York
2014-07-04 The 20th anniversary of South Africa’s democracy offers timely cause for reflection on the complex changes and continuities concerning South African literature and literary studies. Imke van Heerden shares her pictures of the event which took place on June 7th 2014.
African Library: The Yacoubian Building by Alaa al-Aswany
2014-07-02 "You don’t understand because you’re well-off. When you’ve stood for two hours at the bus stop or taken three different buses and had to go through hell every day just to get home ... then you’ll know why we hate Egypt."
Winners announced: Sunday Times Literary Award and Alan Paton Award 2014
2014-06-30 “First time fiction writer Claire Robertson, and political correspondent and commentator Max du Preez were awarded top honours at the 2014 Sunday Times Literary Awards.”
Die vere van die duiwel by Sigrid Schmidt
2014-06-25 Modern folklore: Sigrid Schmidt tells about the birth of her book Die vere van die duiwel.