Harry Bloom

(1913-1981) Harry Saul Bloom journalist, novelist, dramatist and lecturer. 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. Involved in the struggle in the 1950s, he counted Guy Routh and Bram Fischer among his friends. During the state of emergency that followed the Sharpville massacre in 1960, he was detained and in 1963 went into exile in England. In 1967, he became lecturer in law at the University of Kent and married a second time to Sonia Copeland. He died of a stroke in 1981 at the age of 68. Best known for the novel Transvaal Episode (1959), dealing with township life and unrest in the 1950s. Also wrote Whittaker's Wife (1962). Best known theatrical work includes his book for the seminal musical King Kong (1959) and the book for the musical Mr Paljas (Union Artists 1963*?).