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Alias Robert Pagan: William Plomer and the Promotion of South African Writing
Abstract
The purpose of this article is twofold: to examine a neglected aspect of the
otherwise well-documented career of William Plomer (1903–73), and then to
draw attention to his role as a backstage negotiator on behalf of our literary
figures, in Britain as well as in his country of birth, South Africa. Both these
sides of his otherwise well-publicised activities involved a contrastingly
humble, off-the-record quality, which we would call anonymous and
unsigned, so that it is unsurprising if they have been overlooked by the fine
chroniclers of his rich life and abundant works.
otherwise well-documented career of William Plomer (1903–73), and then to
draw attention to his role as a backstage negotiator on behalf of our literary
figures, in Britain as well as in his country of birth, South Africa. Both these
sides of his otherwise well-publicised activities involved a contrastingly
humble, off-the-record quality, which we would call anonymous and
unsigned, so that it is unsurprising if they have been overlooked by the fine
chroniclers of his rich life and abundant works.
