Breyten Breytenbach

Breyten Breytenbach , born the September 16th 1939 with Bonnieval, the Cape Province, is a poet, writer, playwright, painter and South-African painter in watercolours of origin and citizen French, which writes so much in its native tongue (the Afrikaans) that in English.

Life

As of the beginning of the Years 1960, still student, it fights against the mode of Apartheid before leaving for a stay to France, where it meets Yolande, a Vietnamese, which it marries. This marriage, which falls under the prohibiting blow of the South-African law, of 1949 to 1994, the mixed marriages, the interdict of stay in its native land. It settles then with Paris and lance a clandestine movement of resistance to the mode of apartheid, Okhela. At the time of a clandestine stay in South Africa, in 1975, it is stopped then judged. He escapes from little from the capital punishment, and sees his sorrow commuted to nine years of prison.

On its return in France, in 1982, he became French citizen. He could turn over to South Africa with the fall of the mode of apartheid, in 1994. Since, it shares its time between the United States, France and its native land, where it teaches, publishes and gives to see plays very discussed on the nation rainbow.

Work

Initially pertaining poet, with Andre Brink, to the group of the Sestigers , Breyten Breytenbach announces himself quickly by phantasmagoric fictions, like Om You Vlieg , in which the fantastic character Panus plays a central role. Its stay in prison gives rise to writings of the autobiographical type, like The True Confessions off year Albino Terrorist (1983). It also starts, starting from the beginning of the year 1980, to write directly in English, which does not prevent it therefore from continuing its poetic activity in Afrikaans.

Breytenbach is especially known, in its country as in Europe, for its activities of painter. It presented, since 1996, several personal exposures. Several of its books are illustrated by its care, like All One Horse (1987), which makes alternate short accounts and watercolours.

Poetry

Proses

Paintings

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