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Charles Jonathan “Jonty” Driver is a distinguished South African-born novelist, poet, and biographer whose work is deeply intertwined with his political activism and personal experiences under apartheid. Born in 1939 to an Anglican clergyman, Driver’s life has been shaped by his commitment to justice, his opposition to racial oppression, and his deep reflections on exile and identity.
Education and Professional Career
Driver studied at the University of Cape Town, earning BA Honours and a BEd, before furthering his studies at Oxford University, where he obtained a BPhil. His career as an educator spanned continents, including headships at schools in England and Hong Kong. He concluded his teaching career as Master of Wellington College in England, a position that reflected his leadership and commitment to academic excellence.
Political Activism and Exile
As president of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) in 1963–1964, Driver was at the forefront of the anti-apartheid movement. His activism led to his detention on political grounds and the revocation of his passport by the South African government, rendering him stateless. This forced exile would become one of the central experiences informing his literary themes of alienation, displacement, and nostalgia.
Literary Themes and Style
Driver’s fiction often explores:
- Alienation and exile – the personal cost of political struggle.
- Loyalty and betrayal – examining moral dilemmas in oppressive systems.
- Revolution and conscience – the struggle to reconcile activism with ethical restraint.
His style is marked by realism—he has openly stated, “I have no taste for the surreal and the fantastic”—and is notable for vivid characterization, nuanced human relationships, and an urbane tone.
Major Novels
- Elegy for a Revolutionary (1969) – Banned in South Africa; portrays the complexities of political activism and personal sacrifice.
- Send War in Our Time, O Lord (1970) – Another banned work, delving into the costs of resistance.
- Death of Fathers (1972) – A novel exploring loss, generational conflict, and political realities.
- A Messiah of the Last Days (1974) – A work blending political themes with deep moral inquiry.
Poetry Collections
Driver has published six volumes of lyrical poetry, noted for their wit, irony, and sensitivity:
- Occasional Light (1979)
- I Live Here Now (1979)
- Hong Kong Portraits (1986)
- In the Water Margins (1994)
- Holiday Haiku (1997)
- Requiem (1997/98)
Biographical Work
Driver’s biography Patrick Duncan: South African and Pan-African (1980) stands as an acclaimed portrait of the liberal political activist, reflecting his deep engagement with African political history and the personalities who shaped it.
Legacy
Beyond his novels and poetry, Driver has contributed as an occasional reviewer for British newspapers such as The Guardian. His works remain essential for understanding the intersection of personal exile, political struggle, and moral reflection in South African literature. Through his realist prose and thoughtful verse, C.J. Driver has left an enduring mark as both a literary craftsman and a voice of conscience against injustice.
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