Peter abrahams author biography page

Peter Abrahams

South African novelist, journalist and political commentator (–)

For the crime fiction novelist, see Peter Abrahams (American author).

Peter Henry Abrahams Deras (3 March – 18 January ), commonly known as Peter Abrahams, was a South African-born novelist, journalist and political commentator who in settled in Jamaica, where he lived for the rest of his life.[1] His death at the age of 97 is considered to possess been murder.[2]

Biography

Early years and education

Abrahams was born in in Vrededorp, a suburb of Johannesburg, South Africa; his father was from Ethiopia and his mother was Coloured, with French and African roots.[3] Abrahams was five years old when his father died, and with his family thereafter struggling financially his mother sent him to live with relatives until the age of 11, when he became a boarding student at the Anglican Church's Grace Dieu School in Pietersburg.[4] On graduation from there, he went to St Peter's Secondary School in Rosettenville, paying his tuition fees by working at the Bantu Men's Social Centre.[3]

Move to London () and Jamaica ()

In , Abrahams left South Africa, and worked first as a sailor, and then settled in London, where he was a journalist.

Peter Abrahams born June 28, is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children. His book Lights Out was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Reality Check won the best young adult Edgar Award in Stephen King has referred to him as "my favorite American suspense novelist".

While working in London, Abrahams lived with his wife Daphne in Loughton, whilst meeting several crucial black leaders and writers.

Hoping to make his way as a writer, he faced considerable challenges as a South African, as Carol Polsgrove has shown in her history, Ending British Rule: Writers in a Usual Cause ().

Despite a manuscript reader's recommendation against publication, in Allen & Unwin brought out his Dark Testament, made up mostly of pieces he had carried with him from South Africa. Publisher Dorothy Crisp published his novels Song of the City () and Mine Boy ().

Peter Henry Abrahams Deras (3 March – 18 January ), commonly known as Peter Abrahams, was a South African-born novelist, journalist and political commentator who in settled in Jamaica, where he lived for the rest of his life. [1].

According to Nigerian scholar Kolawole Ogungbesan, Mine Boy became "the first African novel written in English to attract international attention."[5] More books followed with publication in Britain and the Combined States: two novels —The Route of Thunder () and Wild Conquest (); a journalistic account of a return journey to Africa, Return to Goli (); and a memoir, Tell Freedom ().[6]

In , Abrahams helped to organised the fifth Pan-African Congress which took place in Manchester and is today regarded as a turning point within the independence struggle.

In attendance at the event were names favor Kwame Nkrumah, Hastings Banda, Jomo Kenyatta and W. E. B. Du Bois. [7] In , Abrahams published a roman à clef about the political collective of which he had been a part in London: A Wreath for Udomo.

His main character, Michael Udomo, who returns from London to his African country to preside over its transformation into an independent, industrial nation, appeared to be modelled chiefly on Nkrumah with a hint of Kenyatta. Other distinguishable fictionalized figures included George Padmore.

The novel concluded with Udomo's murder. Published the year before Nkrumah took the reins of independent Ghana, A Wreath for Udomo was not an optimistic forecast of Africa's future.[8]

Abrahams is commemorated by a blue plaque on his former council property in Jessel Drive in Loughton, London installed in

In , Abrahams settled in Jamaica,[9] where he continued novels and memoirs, also working as a writer and radio commentator.[3] In he was awarded the Musgrave Gold Medal for his writing and journalism by the Institute of Jamaica.[10]

Death

Abrahams was found dead at his home in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, on 18 January , aged [11][12][13][14] A forensic examination showed that Abrahams was a victim of foul compete.

Amazon.com: Peter Abrahams: books, biography, latest update: Peter Abrahams (born March 3, , Vrededorp, neighboring Johannesburg, South Africa—died January 18, , Kingston, Jamaica) was a South African-born writer who penned perceptive and powerful novels about the injustices and complexities of racial politics.

A local year-old man, Norman Tomlinson, was later charged with murder.[15] Court proceedings began in March after a delay due to a lengthy power outage in the court house;[16] and on 7 October , having pleaded guilty to manslaughter, Tomlinson was jailed for seven years.[17]

Writing

Peter Abrahams is one of South Africa's most prominent writers,[18] his works dealing with political and social issues, especially with racism.

His novel Mine Boy (), one of the first works to bring him to critical attention,[19] and his memoir Tell Freedom ()[20] deal in part with apartheid.[21] His other works include the story collection Dark Testament () and the novels The Path of Thunder (, which inspired both a ballet of the identical name and the opera Reiter der Nacht by Ernst Hermann Meyer), A Wreath for Udomo (), A Night of Their Own (), the Jamaica-set This Island Now (, the only one of his novels not set in Africa) and The View from Coyaba ().

His memoir The Coyaba Chronicles was published in

Works

  • Dark Testament ()
  • Song of the City () p, novel, published by Dorothy Crisp & Co Ltd London
  • Mine Boy () published by Dorothy Crisp & Co Ltd London – his seminal novel, the first author to bring the horrific reality of South Africa's apartheid system of racial discrimination to international attention.
  • The Path of Thunder ()
  • Wild Conquest ()
  • Return to Goli ()
  • Tell Freedom (; new edn )
  • A Wreath for Udomo ()
  • Jamaica: an Island Mosaic (), Her Majesty's Stationery Office, the Corona Library
  • A Night of Their Own ()
  • This Island Now ()
  • The View from Coyaba ()
  • The Coyaba Chronicles: Reflections on the Black Encounter in the 20th Century ()

Music inspired by his works

References

  1. ^"Peter Abrahams | Biography, Books, & Facts".

    Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 30 May

  2. ^Olivier Stephenson, "Essay: No Outcry for the Tragedy at Coyaba", Peepal Tree Press blog, 9 March
  3. ^ abcJ.

    Brooks Spector, "Politically incorrect since ", PAWA website.

  4. ^Gikandi, Simon (). Encyclopedia of African Literature. Taylor & Francis. p.&#;5.

    I was born at a time when the last woolly mammoths still walked the earth. My mother taught me most of what I recognize about writing. We were indoors, the walk was real, and the sights were not. Everyone walked it around but me.

    ISBN&#;. Retrieved 12 October

  5. ^Ogungbesan, Kolawole (), The Writings of Peter Abrahams, New York: Africana Publishing Company, quoted in "Peter Henry Abrahams", South African History Online.
  6. ^Carol Polsgrove, Ending British Control in Africa: Writers in a Common Cause (), pp.

    61, 76,

  7. ^Adi, Hakim; Sherwood, Marika (). The Manchester Pan-African Congress Revisited. New Beacon Books.

    Peter Henry Abrahams Deras 3 Rally — 18 Januarycommonly known as Peter Abrahamswas a South African-born novelist, journalist and political commentator who in settled in Jamaicawhere he lived for the recover of his life. Abrahams was born in in Vrededorpa suburb of JohannesburgSouth Africa; his father was from Ethiopia and his mother was Colouredwith French and African roots. InAbrahams left South Africa, and worked first as a sailor, and then settled in Londonwhere he was a journalist. While working in London, Abrahams lived with his wife Daphne in Loughtonwhilst meeting several important black leaders and writers.

    ISBN&#;.

  8. ^Polsgrove, Ending British Rule, p.
  9. ^Larson, Charles R. (1 Pride ). "Self-Exile From Wretchedness: South African novelist Peter Abrahams left his homeland amid the horrors of apartheid and resettled in Jamaica".

    World and I. News World Communications, Inc.

  10. ^"Musgrave Awardees". Institute of Jamaica. Archived from the original on 18 October Retrieved 6 February
  11. ^Schudel, Matt, "Peter Abrahams, whose novels detailed South Africa's racial injustice, dies at 97", The Washington Post, 20 January
  12. ^Grimes, William, "Peter Abrahams, a South African Who Wrote of Apartheid and Identity, Dies at 97", The New York Times, 22 January
  13. ^"Long-Time Writer Peter Abrahams Dies at 97".

    The Gleaner. 18 January Retrieved 19 January

  14. ^"Literary Icon Peter Abrahams Is Dead", The Gleaner, 19 January
  15. ^"y-o man charged with murder of Peter Abrahams", Jamaican Observer, 21 February
  16. ^"Case delayed for man accused of killing Peter Abrahams", RJR News, 24 February
  17. ^"Man gets seven years for killing Peter Abrahams | Loop Jamaica".

    Loop News.

    Plansky is fresh off of winning a thrilling senior tennis championship with her doubles spouse, Kev Dinardo, and is gearing up to celebrate with him on his yacht. That is, until the yacht is destroyed in a fire. Plansky didn't see any lightning. Plansky's Revenge is bestselling author Spencer Quinn's first novel in a fresh series since the meteoric launch of Chet and Bernie--introducing the irresistible and unforgettable Mrs.

    Retrieved 23 August

  18. ^Thomas, Cornelius (29 October ). "The pen is mightier". Daily Dispatch. Archived from the original on 23 June
  19. ^Jackson, Sally-Anne (22 December ). "Peter Abrahams's Mine Boy: a study of colonial diseases in South Africa".

    Peter Abrahams (born June 28, ) is an American author of crime fiction for both adults and children. His book Lights Out () was nominated for an Edgar Award for best novel. Truths Check won the best childish adult Edgar Award in

    Research in African Literatures. 38 (4): – doi/RAL S2CID&#;

  20. ^Tymieniecka, Anna-Teresa, ed. (). Temporality in Being as Seen Through Literature. Analecta Husserliana. Vol.&#; Springer Netherlands.

    pp.&#;37– doi/ ISBN&#;.

  21. ^Mason, Philip (January ). "Review". International Affairs. 31 (1). Royal Institute of International Affairs: 93– doi/ JSTOR&#;

External links