On Friday, 1 March celebrated South African poet, novelist and critic,  Stephen Gray visited the Centre for African Literary Studies (CALS) to celebrate his donation of the French literary journal, Les Cahiers du Sud, and the works of Noel Langley to CALS.

Gray addressed staff from English and French, the Alan Paton Centre, UKZN Press, and the Witness  about his donation of the works of Langley to CALS.  He said that felt that it was fitting that the CALS should house the collection. Durban-born Langley graduated from the University of Natal in 1934 with a BA, before going on to make his name in London’s West End and Hollywood. He was the screenwriter for classic 1939 film, The Wizard of Oz.  

The Langley Collection comprises eight novels, There’s a porpoise close behind us, Cage me a peacock, Hocus pocus (two different editions), The music of the heart,  Nymph in clover, The inconstant moon,  The rift in the lute, Where did everybody go and a non-fiction item,  Edgar Cayce on reincarnation. These will shortly be ready for use at CALS. CALS also houses Gray’s personal collection. He has now added a copy of his 2006 book ‘Shelley cinema’ and other poems to it.

The United Kingdom publisher, James Currey, who shares a long publishing history with African literature, also attended the event.