Harry Bloom
Encyclopedia
Harry Saul Bloom was a Jewish South African journalist, novelist, and political activist. Born Solomon Harris Bloom, he was educated at the University of the Witwatersrand
and subsequently became an advocate in Johannesburg
. He married Beryl Gordon in 1940 and worked as a war correspondent in England during the Second World War.
Bloom's first novel, Episode (1956), was later retitled Transvaal Episode. This book, an account of an uprising in the fictional township of Nelstroom in the aftermath of the 1952–53 African National Congress
defiance campaign, was banned by the South African government for being dangerous to the safety of the apartheid state. The novel won the British Authors' Club Prize
for the best novel of 1956, but Bloom was denied an exit permit to travel to England to receive the prize. The book was dedicated to four people: his wife Beryl, who provided editorial assistance and typed the manuscript; Bram Fischer
, Bloom's close friend who defended Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial
; Archbishop Trevor Huddleston
, and Guy Routh. Bloom worked with Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg in the 1950s. During the state of emergency that followed the Sharpville massacre in 1960, he was detained for ninety days without charges or trial—first at Roeland Street Prison and later at Worcester Prison near Cape Town.
Bloom wrote his second novel, Whittaker's Wife (1962) while serving a three-month detention in prison for his political activities. He also wrote the play for the musical King Kong: An African Jazz Opera (1961), a tragedy of a black boxer from the ghetto, that reached a multiracial audience both locally and internationally.
In 1963 Bloom went into exile in England. He left behind his wife, Beryl, and two children, Susan Storm Bloom (photographer and jewellery designer www.susanstorm.com) and Stephen Bloom (photographer Steve Bloom
). In 1967, he became lecturer in law at the University of Kent
, where he taught until 1974. He then married a second time, to Sonia Copeland, Harry Bloom died of a stroke in 1981 at the age of 68. Beryl continued to live in Cape Town and died in Victoria Court, on 28 Sept 2009, aged 88.
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
and subsequently became an advocate in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. He married Beryl Gordon in 1940 and worked as a war correspondent in England during the Second World War.
Bloom's first novel, Episode (1956), was later retitled Transvaal Episode. This book, an account of an uprising in the fictional township of Nelstroom in the aftermath of the 1952–53 African National Congress
African National Congress
The African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
defiance campaign, was banned by the South African government for being dangerous to the safety of the apartheid state. The novel won the British Authors' Club Prize
Author's Club First Novel Award
Authors' Club Best First Novel Award is awarded by the Authors' Club to the most promising first novel of the year, written by a British author and published in the UK during the calendar year preceding the year in which the award is presented....
for the best novel of 1956, but Bloom was denied an exit permit to travel to England to receive the prize. The book was dedicated to four people: his wife Beryl, who provided editorial assistance and typed the manuscript; Bram Fischer
Bram Fischer
Abram Louis Fischer, commonly known as Bram Fischer, was a South African lawyer of Afrikaner descent, notable for anti-apartheid activism and for the legal defence of anti-apartheid figures, including Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial.-Tributes:Fischer is widely acknowledged as a key figure in...
, Bloom's close friend who defended Nelson Mandela at the Rivonia Trial
Rivonia Trial
The Rivonia Trial was a trial that took place in South Africa between 1963 and 1964, in which ten leaders of the African National Congress were tried for 221 acts of sabotage designed to overthrow the apartheid system.-Origins:...
; Archbishop Trevor Huddleston
Trevor Huddleston
Ernest Urban Trevor Huddleston CR, KCMG was an English Anglican bishop. He was most well known for his anti-apartheid activism and his 'Prayer for Africa'...
, and Guy Routh. Bloom worked with Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg in the 1950s. During the state of emergency that followed the Sharpville massacre in 1960, he was detained for ninety days without charges or trial—first at Roeland Street Prison and later at Worcester Prison near Cape Town.
Bloom wrote his second novel, Whittaker's Wife (1962) while serving a three-month detention in prison for his political activities. He also wrote the play for the musical King Kong: An African Jazz Opera (1961), a tragedy of a black boxer from the ghetto, that reached a multiracial audience both locally and internationally.
In 1963 Bloom went into exile in England. He left behind his wife, Beryl, and two children, Susan Storm Bloom (photographer and jewellery designer www.susanstorm.com) and Stephen Bloom (photographer Steve Bloom
Steve Bloom
Steve Bloom is a photographer and writer. He is best known for his photography books and essays, many of which feature wildlife; as well as his large scale outdoor exhibitions called Spirit of the Wild.-Career:...
). In 1967, he became lecturer in law at the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
, where he taught until 1974. He then married a second time, to Sonia Copeland, Harry Bloom died of a stroke in 1981 at the age of 68. Beryl continued to live in Cape Town and died in Victoria Court, on 28 Sept 2009, aged 88.