Life Sentence: A Biography of Herman Charles Bosman Author: Stephen Gray
Life Sentence: A Biography of Herman Charles Bosman (Collectible Copy)
The Definitive, Uncompromising Biography of South Africa’s Ultimate Short-Story Master
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Life Sentence: A Biography of Herman Charles Bosman
- Author: Stephen Gray
- Publisher: Human & Rousseau, Cape Town / Pretoria
- Publication Date: 2005
- ISBN-10: 079814484X
- Edition Details: First Edition. The comprehensive, critically acclaimed biography uncovering the dark secrets and brilliant wit of the creator of Oom Schalk Lourens.
- Binding: Original publisher's glossy illustrated card wrappers (premium softcover).
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 340 pages. Complemented by rare archival police photographs, court records, and early portraits.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good Plus to Near Fine (VG+/NF)
- Exterior / Wraps: The outer wraps are exceptionally crisp, flat, and structurally immaculate. The spine is uncreased and perfectly rigid, showing virtually zero shelf friction or edge curling.
- Interior: Pristine interior state. The text block binding is flawless, the pages are clean, bright white, and entirely free of user highlighting, name stamps, or dealer markups.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Stephen Gray’s Life Sentence is a groundbreaking, definitive biographical study that peels back the mythos surrounding Herman Charles Bosman. Moving chronologically through Bosman's dramatic life, Gray illuminates the shocking 1926 murder of his stepbrother, his subsequent death-row sentence at Pretoria Central Prison, his exile years in Europe, and his chaotic bohemian lifestyle back in Johannesburg. Utilizing newly discovered private documents, this text bridges the gap between Bosman's gentle, humorous fictional world of Marico and his deeply troubled, aggressive personal reality.
Author Profile: Stephen Gray
Stephen Gray (1941–2020) was an eminent South African writer, poet, literary historian, and professor of English at Rand Afrikaans University. A passionate advocate for local literary heritage, Gray dedicated decades to recovering lost manuscripts and writing definitive histories of iconic local figures like Bosman, Schreiner, and Richard Rive, ensuring their preservation in the global academic canon.
herman charles bosman biography, stephen gray life sentence, isbn 079814484x, human rousseau 2005, rare books on bosman, south african literary biographies, used collectible book
