A Wreath for Udomo (Faber Editions)

Peter Abrahams was born in Vrededorp, near Johannesburg, in 1919. His Ethiopian father worked in the gold mines; his mother was the daughter of a black African father and white French mother, classifying Abrahams as 'coloured'. After his father's death, he had an impoverished childhood, selling firewood and working for a tinsmith, before winning a scholarship to school. In 1939, Abrahams left South Africa for European exile, writing for the Communist Daily Worker, befriending political activists and organising the Fifth Pan-African Congress. His first book was published in 1942, followed by ten volumes of trailblazing fiction and autobiography exposing racial injustice. He settled in Jamaica in 1956 - where he lived until his death aged 97 - where he continued writing and broadcasting radio commentaries; he was married twice, both to white Englishwomen, and had three children.

'An African writer, a writer of the world, who opened up in South Africa a path of exploration for us, the writers who have followed the trail he bravely blazed.' - Nadine Gordimer'Abrahams explored with sensitivity and passion, the injustices of apartheid and the complexities of racial politics . An important literary voice.' - New York Times'He writes with vividness and great dignity . The forerunner of an entire school of African literary art.' - Sunday Times'With all that has been written about Africa, hardly anything has been said about the most significant people of all - the African leaders, revolutionaries one moment, Prime Ministers the next. This unusual novel, written with a close and sympathetic knowledge, gives a fascinating insight into these men.' - Observer'Intelligent and exciting . Written with skill and sympathy.' - TLS