Peter Abrahams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Abrahams
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Peter Abrahams (photo taken by Carl Van Vechten, 1955)
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| Born | Peter Henry Abrahams Deras 3 March 1919 Vrededorp, Transvaal, Union of South Africa |
| Died | 18 January 2017 (aged 97) Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica |
| Occupation | Novelist, journalist, political commentator |
| Nationality | South African and Jamaican |
| Notable works | Mine Boy (1946); A Wreath for Udomo (1956); |
Peter Henry Abrahams Deras (born March 3, 1919 – died January 18, 2017), known as Peter Abrahams, was a famous writer, journalist, and political thinker. He was born in South Africa. In 1956, he moved to Jamaica and lived there for the rest of his life. He passed away at the age of 97.
Contents
Peter Abrahams' Life Story
Early Years and School
Peter Abrahams was born in 1919 in Vrededorp, a town near Johannesburg, South Africa. His father was from Ethiopia, and his mother had mixed French and African family roots.
When Peter was five, his father died. His family faced money problems, so his mother sent him to live with relatives. At age 11, he became a student at Grace Dieu School in Pietersburg. After finishing there, he went to St Peter's Secondary School in Rosettenville. He paid for his studies by working at the Bantu Men's Social Centre.
Moving to London and Jamaica
In 1939, Peter Abrahams left South Africa. He first worked as a sailor. Later, he settled in London, England, where he became a journalist. He hoped to become a successful writer.
His first book, Dark Testament, came out in 1942. It included stories he had brought from South Africa. He then published the novels Song of the City (1945) and Mine Boy (1946). Mine Boy became very popular around the world. It was the first African novel written in English to get such attention.
More books followed, like The Path of Thunder (1948) and Wild Conquest (1950). He also wrote Return to Goli (1953), about a trip back to Africa. His memoir, Tell Freedom (1954), shared his life experiences.
While in London, Abrahams met important Black leaders and writers. These included George Padmore, a key figure in the Pan-African movement. He also met Kwame Nkrumah from the Gold Coast and Jomo Kenyatta from Kenya. Both Nkrumah and Kenyatta later became leaders of their countries. In 2020, a special blue plaque was placed on his old home in Jessel Drive in Loughton to remember him.
In 1956, Abrahams published A Wreath for Udomo. This novel was about the political groups he had been part of in London. Its main character, Michael Udomo, returns to his African country to make it independent. This character seemed to be based on Nkrumah and Kenyatta.
In 1956, Peter Abrahams moved to Jamaica. He continued to write novels and memoirs there. He also worked as a journalist and radio commentator. In 1994, he received the Musgrave Gold Medal for his great writing and journalism. This award came from the Institute of Jamaica.
Peter Abrahams' Books
Peter Abrahams is known as one of South Africa's most important writers. His books often explore social issues and racism. His novel Mine Boy (1946) and his memoir Tell Freedom (1954) talk about apartheid. Apartheid was a system of racial separation in South Africa.
Some of his other works include:
- The story collection Dark Testament (1942).
- The novel The Path of Thunder (1948). This book inspired a ballet and an opera.
- A Wreath for Udomo (1956).
- A Night of Their Own (1965).
- This Island Now (1966), which is set in Jamaica.
- The View from Coyaba (1985).
- His memoir The Coyaba Chronicles was published in 2000.
List of Works
- Dark Testament (1942)
- Song of the City (1945)
- Mine Boy (1946) – This important novel helped people around the world understand the unfairness of apartheid in South Africa.
- The Path of Thunder (1948)
- Wild Conquest (1950)
- Return to Goli (1953)
- Tell Freedom (1954)
- A Wreath for Udomo (1956)
- Jamaica: an Island Mosaic (1957)
- A Night of Their Own (1965)
- This Island Now (1966)
- The View from Coyaba (1985)
- The Coyaba Chronicles: Reflections on the Black Experience in the 20th Century (2000)
Music Inspired by His Books
- The ballet İldırımlı yollarla ("The Path of Thunder") (1958) was created by the Azerbaijani composer Gara Garayev.
- The opera Reiter der Nacht (1973) by the East German composer Ernst Hermann Meyer is also based on The Path of Thunder.
See also
In Spanish: Peter Abrahams (escritor sudafricano) para niños
