Can Themba : the making and breaking of the intellectual Tsotsi : a biography

**Mahala's biography gives insight into the life and writing of Can Themba (1924–1967), an iconic figure of the South African literary world and Drum journalist who died in exile** This rich and absorbing biography of Can Themba, iconic Drum-era journalist and writer, is the definitive history of a larger-than-life man who died too young. Siphiwo Mahala's intensive and often fresh research features unprecedented archival access and interviews with Themba's surviving colleagues and family. Mahala’s biography takes a critical historical approach to Themba’s life and writing, giving a picture of the whole man, from his early beginnings in Marabastad to his sombre end in exile in Swaziland. The better-known elements of his life – his political views, passion for teaching and mentoring, family life and his drinking – are woven together with an examination of his literary influences and the impact of his own writing (especially his famous short story 'The Suit') on modern African writers in turn. Mahala, a master storyteller, deftly follows the threads of Themba's dynamic life, showcasing his intellectual acumen, scholarly aptitude and wit, along with his flaws, contradictions and heartbreaks, against a backdrop of the sparkle and pathos of Sophiatown of the 1950s. Can Themba’s successes and failures as well as his triumphs and tribulations reverberate on the pages of this long-awaited biography. The result is an authoritative and entertaining account of an often misunderstood figure in South Africa's literary canon.

This rich and absorbing biography of Can Themba, iconic Drum-erajournalist and writer, is the definitive history of alarger-than-life man who died too young. Siphiwo Mahala's intensiveand often fresh research features unprecedented archival access andinterviews with Themba's surviving colleagues and family. Mahala'sbiography takes a critical historical approach to Themba's life andwriting, giving a picture of the whole man, from his earlybeginnings in Marabastad to his sombre end in exile in Swaziland.The better-known elements of his life - his political views,passion for teaching and mentoring, family life and his drinking -are woven together with an examination of his literary influencesand the impact of his own writing (especially his famous shortstory 'The Suit') on modern African writers in turn. Mahala, amaster storyteller, deftly follows the threads of Themba's dynamiclife, showcasing his intellectual acumen, scholarly aptitude andwit, along with his flaws, contradictions and heartbreaks, againsta backdrop of the sparkle and pathos of Sophiatown of the 1950s.Can Themba's successes and failures as well as his triumphs andtribulations reverberate on the pages of this long-awaitedbiography. The result is an authoritative and entertaining accountof an often misunderstood figure in South Africa's literarycanon.

This rich and absorbing biography of Can Themba, iconic Drum-erajournalist and writer, is the definitive history of alarger-than-life man who died too young. Siphiwo Mahala's intensiveand often fresh research features unprecedented archival access andinterviews with Themba's surviving colleagues and family. Mahala'sbiography takes a critical historical approach to Themba's life andwriting, giving a picture of the whole man, from his earlybeginnings in Marabastad to his sombre end in exile in Swaziland.The better-known elements of his life - his political views,passion for teaching and mentoring, family life and his drinking -are woven together with an examination of his literary influencesand the impact of his own writing (especially his famous shortstory 'The Suit') on modern African writers in turn. Mahala, amaster storyteller, deftly follows the threads of Themba's dynamiclife, showcasing his intellectual acumen, scholarly aptitude andwit, along with his flaws, contradictions and heartbreaks, againsta backdrop of the sparkle and pathos of Sophiatown of the 1950s.Can Themba's successes and failures as well as his triumphs andtribulations reverberate on the pages of this long-awaitedbiography. The result is an authoritative and entertaining accountof an often misunderstood figure in South Africa's literarycanon.

In this rich and absorbing biography, the threads of Can Themba's dynamic life are deftly woven together, showcasing his intellectual acumen, scholarly aptitude and wit, with his flaws, contradictions and heartbreaks. The result is an authoritative and entertaining account of an often misunderstood figure in South Africa's literary canon