27 June 2000

Dear Stephen [Gray],

Good to receive your heart-warming postcard. The pleasure was also ours when you & Henk visited.

You suggested that I compile a volume of stories and other narrative modes. I agree that it would be a task worthwhile undertaking. Problem: I'm too close to the writing to avoid a squinted take of it. It occurred to me that Stephen Gray would be the best person for the project. Would you have the time? Would it consume too much of your time, every minute of which you need for remunerative work, now that you're not on a leash any longer?

As I said, I was charmed by your anthology and critical essays (Southern Africa lit.), both of which I prescribed as class texts for my course in Columbia, SC. I should very much like for you to tackle the compilation. I would help by digging out possible entries, incl. the Tribute stuff, the narrative prose published in Drum & a bilingual journal published at Stellenbosch in the late forties, etc. Among the Drum stuff are a series called ‘Lesane’ as well as more serious pieces.

Incidentally, have you ever seen the latest novella, Crossing Over, same length as ‘Mrs Plum’ which it replaces in Ramogale's To Kill a Man's Pride (publ. 1999). Ravan thought ‘Mrs Plum’ diminishes its chances of being prescribed as a school text: their thinking is that it contains scenes suggesting bestiality (sic) – a view communicated to them by a few teachers.

Do you think you would find the time? The full number of the Lesane stories came out in a collection in the seventies or eighties (I forget the compilereditor). The introduction to the volume would carry an imprint of a fine critic who I know for sure would place my work in proper perspective. What say you, mon amis? Let me say at once that I shall not be surprised nor think less of you if your answer is ‘No’. I shall understand, in spite of my disappointment.

I know you are not enamoured of these new-fangled gadgets eg computers etc. But for any later use, my e-mail address is:eskimph@mweb.co.za

Warmest regards from us both

Zeke

Johannesburg

3 July 2000

Dear Zeke,

Thanks for your very welcome letter.