Anthony Delius

Anthony Delius (1916-1989) was a South African journalist, poet, author and playwright.

Biography

He was born Anthony Ronald St Martin Delius at Simonstown at the end of the first World War and was educated at St Aidan's College and Rhodes University in Grahamstown.

Career

Having finished his studies, he became a reporter in Port Elizabeth. In 1940 he joined the South African Military Intelligence for the duration of the war. After his return he returned to journalism, helping to found the Evening Post in Port Elizabeth, before joining the Cape Times in Cape Town. Besides travelling widely as a reporter in Africa, as well as the USA and Europe, he also lectured in African Government at the University of Cape Town.

Besides his work with the Cape Times, he also wrote as correspondent for several international papers, including the New York Reporter, The Guardian and The Washington Post. .

His writing includes a number of books, e.g. The Last Division (1959), The Day Natal Took Off: A Satire (1963), Border: A Novel (1976), The Young Traveller in South Africa (19**), The Paperbook of South African English Poetry (1984) Upsurge in Africa (1960),

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

His first play The Fall: A Play about Rhodes was published in 1960 and was the first English play to be done at the National Theatre in Pretoria in that year.