One of the foremost South African poets, Dennis Brutus is a prime example of Third World writers whose work is particularly striking because they are successful at combining Western literary structures and traditions with indigenous forms and experiences. Brutus's poetry evinces a remarkable range of poetic influences: from William Shakespeare and, particularly, John Donne to Pablo Neruda and some Japanese Haiku masters. Nevertheless, his most outstanding achievement consists of his political lyrics, intensely personal poems that focus on fundamental political topics.

Dennis Brutus was born in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) on 28 November 1924 to South African parents, both teachers: Francis Henry and Margaret Winifred Bloemetjie Brutus. He returned to South Africa with them shortly after his birth and lived there until he went into exile in 1966. He received his B.A. from Fort Hare University College in 1947, and for the next fourteen years he taught English and Afrikaans in various...