South African writer Athol Fugard has left his mark in the land of his birth, mainly in the Eastern Cape and Karoo. The Karoo village of Nieu Bethesda and the coastal city of Port Elizabeth are settings for two of his best known plays and reveal his close ties with South Africa. more

Sol Plaatje is a leading figure in South Africa's liberation history. An extraordinary thinker, he spent much of his life mobilising for the liberation of African people. Two national monuments in Kimberley are testament to his legacy and, a museum in Mafikeng is named after him. more

The new buzzword among South African city travellers is ‘book safari’. It’s not just about hunting down the book you’re looking for, it’s also about the ambience of the ‘hunting grounds’ – like vibey Long Street in Cape Town, where discovering good books is only part of the experience. more

JM Coetzee's mastery of clear, concise prose, meticulous construction and meaningful dialogue elevate his work to the highest ranks of modern literature. His writing reflects an austere economy of words and a direct, rational style which has won him the highest of literary accolades, the Nobel Prize for Literature. more

Nadine Gordimer’s works were a thorn in the side of the apartheid government and, although a number of them were banned, she chose to stay on in Johannesburg. She was the first South African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. more

Hang out, browse, buy books, maps and travel guides and meet other booklovers at South African bookstores. Whether it’s a large chain store or a quaint second book shop tucked away in a small town, you’ll find a range of South African and international literature to enjoy. more

Performance poetry in South Africa is a thriving art form that involves reciting poetry that exhibits the influences of South African oral story-telling traditions, as well as jazz, dub, hip hop and reggae. Characterised by its eloquence and experimentation, our performance poets are the voice of the nation. more

Herman Charles Bosman’s work is peppered with vernacular phrases, replete with believable characters and characterised by richly evocative landscapes that bring the uniquely South African world he creates to full and vigorous life. Bosman’s fans continue to appreciate his ironic, anecdotal style that has earned him a place among South Africa’s great writers. more

Besides providing access to reading materials and serving as resource centres for schools and tertiary education, South African libraries are custodians of South African knowledge, and essential in preserving the history and identity of the nation. Discover rare collections of books from around the country, as well as periodicals, newspapers and Africana. more

Among South Africa's favourite authors, 2 have won the Nobel Prize for Literature – Nadine Gordimer and JM Coetzee. Both have also won the Booker Prize, Coetzee being the first to win this distinction twice. Other well-known South African writers include Zakes Mda, Andre P Brink and Achmat Dangor. more

South African literature is as diverse as our country and includes science fiction, magical realism, crime writing, comedy, social realism, reportage and cultural commentary. Two South African writers have won the Nobel Prize for Literature; Nadine Gordimer (1991) and JM Coetzee (2003). more