H.W.D. Manson

H.W.D. Manson (1926-1969) was a highly regarded South African playwright, poet academic.

Biography

Born Harley William Daniel Manson in 1926,

Manson's works in chronological order as written: 1. The Fight at Finnsburgh (being published by the Witwatersrand University Press). 2. The Green Knight (Human & Rousseau). 3. The Noose-Knot Ballad (Human & Rousseau). 4. The Counsellors (posthumously published by the Natal University Press). S. The Festival (first published by Balkema-republished by the Natal University Press.). 6. Captain Smith (Human & Rousseau). 7. The Magnolia Tree (Nasion ale Boekhandel). 8. Pat Mulholland's Day (Nasionale Boekhandel). 9. Potluck (posthumously published by Natal University Press). 10. Magnus (posthumously published by Natal University Press).

Died 29 May 1969. At the time of his death he was a lecturer in English at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Notable for his verse plays, he was the author of The Festival (published by Balkema); The Noose-Knot Ballad (Human and Rousseau); The Magnolia Tree (Nasionale Boekhandel); Pat Mulholland's Day (Nasionale Boekhandel); Captain Smith (Human and Rousseau); The Green Knight (Human and Rousseau) and Potluck which was performed in Pietermaritzburg in 1967 and published by the University of Natal Press c1970. He also wrote The Counsellors, The Fight at Finnsburg and Magnus.

Sources

H.W.D. Manson: Poet and Playwright, and his connections with Natal"

Teater SA, 1(4), 1969.

Theoria, (35), October 1970.

Review by T.J. Couzens English Studies in Africa, 15(2), 9 September 1972.

Standpunte, 11(1), August/September, 1956: pp. 12-34.

Standpunte, 24(1), p. 26.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

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