William Charles Scully
Encyclopedia
William Charles Scully is one of South Africa
's best-known authors, although little known outside South Africa. In addition to his work as an author, his paid work was principally as a magistrate in Springfontein
, South Africa, as well as in Namaqualand
and the Transkei
.
Scully was born in Dublin, Ireland, raised in Cashel, County Tipperary
, and then emigrated to southern Africa with his parents during 1867. During 1871 he prospected for diamonds with Cecil Rhodes in Africa. His daughter, Miriam Power (b.1893), married Dr John A.Ryle; their children included Sir Martin Ryle
, Nobel laureate. W.C.Scully died in Umbogintwini on Natal's coast during 1943, the same year as his wife Nora died.
His novel "Daniel Vananda" was described the violence engendered by the ethnic legislation of the time. Similarly, "Kafir Stories" contains stories that are generally sympathetic with the aboriginal African peoples of South Africa.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
's best-known authors, although little known outside South Africa. In addition to his work as an author, his paid work was principally as a magistrate in Springfontein
Springfontein
Springfontein is a small mixed farming town in the Free State province of South Africa.The town was established in 1904 on the farm Hartleydale, which was part of the farm Springfontein. The name Springfontein, which is Afrikaans for "jumping spring", stems from the existence of a spring on the...
, South Africa, as well as in Namaqualand
Namaqualand
Namaqualand is an arid region of Namibia and South Africa, extending along the west coast over and covering a total area of 170,000 square miles/440,000 km². It is divided by the lower course of the Orange River into two portions - Little Namaqualand to the south and Great Namaqualand to the...
and the Transkei
Transkei
The Transkei , officially the Republic of Transkei , was a Bantustan—an area set aside for members of a specific ethnicity—and nominal parliamentary democracy in the southeastern region of South Africa...
.
Scully was born in Dublin, Ireland, raised in Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
, and then emigrated to southern Africa with his parents during 1867. During 1871 he prospected for diamonds with Cecil Rhodes in Africa. His daughter, Miriam Power (b.1893), married Dr John A.Ryle; their children included Sir Martin Ryle
Martin Ryle
Sir Martin Ryle was an English radio astronomer who developed revolutionary radio telescope systems and used them for accurate location and imaging of weak radio sources...
, Nobel laureate. W.C.Scully died in Umbogintwini on Natal's coast during 1943, the same year as his wife Nora died.
His novel "Daniel Vananda" was described the violence engendered by the ethnic legislation of the time. Similarly, "Kafir Stories" contains stories that are generally sympathetic with the aboriginal African peoples of South Africa.
Works
His published works include:- Poems, London, Unwin, 1885
- The Wreck of the Grosvenor, and other South African poems. South Africa, 1886.
- (Anon.) Poems. 1892.
- Kafir Stories. (2nd ed.) London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1895
- The White Hecatomb, and other stories. London: Methuen, 1897
- Between Sun and Sand: a Tale of an African Desert. 1898.
- A Vendetta of the Desert. London: Methuen, 1898
- By Veldt and Kopje. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1907
- The Ridge of the White Waters: "Witwatersrand", or, Impressions of a Visit to Johannesburg: with some notes of Durban, Delagoa Bay and the low country. London: Stanley Paul, nd (c. 1912)
- Reminiscences of a South African Pioneer. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1913
- Further Reminiscences of a South African Pioneer. London: T Fisher Unwin, 1913
- Lodges in the Wilderness. London: H. Jenkins, 1915
- A History of South Africa: From the earliest days to union. London and New York: Longmans, Green, and Company, 1915
- Sir J. H. Meiring Beck: A Memoir compiled by William Charles Scully, with an introduction by John X. Merriman. Cape Town: Maskew Miller, nd (c. 1921)
- The Harrow: South Africa, 1900-1902: a novel. Cape Town: De Nationale Pers, 1921
- Daniel Vananda: The Life Story of a Human Being. Cape Town: Juta Ltd, 1923
- Scapalomine in Africa, or Pharmacy and Politics, Kimberley, Creer & Co., 1937
- Voices of Africa, Durban, Knox, 1943
External links
Sources
- Doyle, John Robert Jr., 1978. William Charles Scully. Twayne Publishing, 1978