at 1 378 m the highest peak in the region; portrayed by HCB as haunted. See “Willem Prinsloo’s Peach Brandy”; “In the Withaak’s Shade”; Maps.
Abrahams, Lionel (1928–2004) Poet, short-story writer, critic, editor, publisher. Born in Johannesburg and schooled at Damelin College, where he first encountered HCB, he graduated from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1955. He was vigorous in his promotion of South African literature both through his own writings and through the editing and publishing of the writings of others. One of his most important contributions as an editor was to publish editions of the works of HCB, who was also his literary mentor for a short period. These include A Cask of Jerepigo (1957), Unto Dust (1963), Bosman at His Best: A Choice of Stories and Sketches (1965), Jurie Steyn’s Post Office and A Bekkersdal Marathon (both 1971; see Voorkamer Sequence), a collection of HCB’s poetry, The Earth is Waiting (1974), and The Collected Works of Herman Charles Bosman (1988). His most detailed biographical piece on HCB appeared as “Mr Bosman: A Protégé’s Memoir” in 2001 (reprinted in RB: 120-64). See appearance; teaching.
absinthe Anise-flavoured spirit with a high alcohol content; popular among the writers of Paris in the nineteenth century; banned in 1915 because of its supposed harmful effects (L&O: 97 “Paris: Sidelights and Half-laughs”).
Achilles Hero of the Trojan War in Greek mythology; half man and half god, his mother – in an attempt to make him invulnerable – dipped him in the river Styx as a baby, except for his heel where he was held, thus creating his one weak point (JN: 159).
Adonis(es) In Greek mythology Adonis was known for his exceptional beauty, which is why Venus fell for him; consequently, attractive and youthful young men are referred to as Adonises (CSJ: 90).
Aeolian harp Named for the Greek God of the wind, it is an instrument that produces sounds when the wind blows through it; it is a box with a soundboard and strings stretched across it, and placed in a window where the breeze can pass through it (CJ: 37 “The Good Earth”).
Aeschylus (524/525– c. 455/456 BCE) Greek writer of tragedies, one of the most famous being Seven against Thebes; contemporary of Euripides (VS: 173 “Die Duistere Vers”).
“Affair at Ysterspruit, The” (OTS: 39) A young schoolmaster in the Marico (a lightly fictionalised rendering of HCB himself) seeks and finds a story of Boer War bravery from Ouma Engelbrecht. A poignant story with a twist that reveals as much about the art of storytelling as it does about the bitterness caused by the Boer War. The schoolmaster prompts his informant (an old oom) to resume his tale “– his words a slow and steady rumble and with the red dust of the road in their sound, almost – a tale of terror or of high romance or soft laughter.” The story appeared in an earlier Afrikaans version as “Die Voorval by Ijzerspruit” (VS: 35).
African Magazine, The See Touleier, The.
“Africana Museum” (CJ: 58) Musings on the enduring quality of the Stone Age and its implements. Thought-provoking piece on what endures, along with praise for the noble savage. Some years later the Africana Museum was renamed Museum Africa and moved to the Market Theatre complex. Readers will be disappointed to find but a fraction of the riches described by HCB. “‘Stone has come to stay.’ And they were right. It stayed. It stayed a million years.”
“Afrikaans Stage, The” (VS: 128) Article pointing out the increasing divide between cynical performers and uncritical theatre audiences largely due to – according to HCB – the lack of good Afrikaans plays.
Afrikaner/Afrikander Breed of cattle unique to SA; type of cattle used by migrant farmers to haul their wagons; were bred through careful selection by the original Dutch trekboers, choosing cattle with long horns and the distinct red colour peculiar to this breed; the breed’s lineage is via the indigenous Nguni cattle and its scientific name/ pedigree is Bos Indicus (as opposed to Bos Taurus, as European cattle are known) (S&H: 21 “Veld Fire”).
Afrikaner(s) See Boer(s).
“Afternoon Ravishment” One of the sketches in “Romance: A Sequence”.
“Age of Reason” Pamphlet criticising organised religion; written by Thomas Paine and published in three parts between 1794 and 1807 (VS: 177 “Credo”).
Agie At Naudé’s second cousin and husband of Seraphima; lit. ‘inquisitive one’; a mine shift boss like HCB’s father (H: 114 “Kith and Kin”).
agterryers (Afr.) Lit. ‘after/behind riders’; black labourers who were drafted into the Boer forces or joined voluntarily essentially to serve as a rear detachment – cooking, keeping fires going, maintaining the camp, etc.; there is continued debate as to how much fighting they did as well (MR: 74 “Yellow Moepels”; UD: 114 “Funeral Earth”; IT: 45 “Ghost Trouble”).
Akademie vir Kuns en Lettere HCB gets it wrong: the correct title is Die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns, a body founded in 1909 to bring together the cultural forces of the Afrikaner (VS: 156 “South African Literature”).
alack and welladay Archaic terms expressing regret (CJ: 193 “Out of the Past”).
“Alarm Clock” (H: 70) At Naudé muses about mechanical inventions, which prompts Meneer Vermaak to give a lecture on China’s contribution to technology. Vague, meandering story that doesn’t make a clear point. “‘Ta-rêêê ta-ta-rê,’ the schoolmaster joined in enthusiastically, flinging an arm into the air. ‘That’s not the Fire Brigade song. It’s the Fire Song. It’s from the Valkyries.’”
albatross Reference to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s epic poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (IT: 82 “Sea-colonels All”).
Albertyn, Ina Screen playwright of Die Wildsboudjie (VS: 165 “A Bushveld Film Comedy”).
“Alby Stewart” (L&O: 74) A short report of a young criminal’s path to the gallows. A sensitive account of a serious matter; the similarity between Stewart’s and HCB’s circumstances is obvious. “‘Goodbye, Alby,’ said Father Ryan, ‘say a prayer for me when you get to Jesus.’ ‘Ah, Father,’ said Stewart with a smile, ‘I always knew you would bum something from me in the end.’”
“Alcoholic Remorse” (H: 87) Jurie Steyn nurses a hangover while visitors remind him of his drunken misdeeds. Painfully accurate description of the distress and long-term consequences of alcohol abuse. “‘And then a shark came right into the café where I was sitting, and started chewing on my leg. Now, isn’t that silly?’”
Alec the Ponce An imprisoned pimp who starts a minor demonstration by tossing his bread over the landing into the hall (CSJ: 67). Also the name of Polly’s pimp and abusive love interest (YB: 148 “Street-woman: A Play in One Act”).
Alice Rita’s sister; bribed by her father to break off relations with her lover Stephen the poet (YB: 52 “Rita’s Marriage”).
Alida Jurie Steyn’s black maid (H: 64: “Sleepy Afternoon”).
Almost Forgotten Stories (1979) Edited by Valerie Rosenberg, the compilation features many of the stories overlooked by Lionel Abrahams, HCB’s principal anthologist up to that point. At the time, this collection filled many of the gaps of the HCB canon, with many of the stories not being those from the major OSL and Voorkamer sequences, and being drawn from HRHRC manuscripts and published for the first time in book form.
Ananias A member of the early Christian church who conspired to deceive and was struck down (UD: 86 “When the Heart is Eager”).
Ander
