Perceval Gibbon

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Perceval Gibbon (1879-1926) in 1902. Photo courtesy Esaach.

Reginald Perceval Gibbon (November 4, 1879 - May 30, 1926) was a South African poet, story writer, and journalist for the Rand Daily Mail as well as for other publications. He is best remembered for his short stories, many of which contained an ironic twist at the end.

Life

Gibbon was born in Trelech, Carmarthenshire, Wales. He was educated at the Moravian School at Königsfeld (Baden). He was in the English merchant service before becoming a war correspondent in various parts of Europe, Africa and America.

During the last stages of the Anglo-Boer War, Gibbon worked for the Natal Witness. During the First World War, Gibbon was a member of British Intelligence, and a war correspondent with the Italian Army from 1917-1918. In 1918-1919, Gibbon was a Major in the British Royal Marines.

Gibbon was a friend to the writer Joseph Conrad, and dedicated his book "Flower o' the Peach" to Joseph and Jessie Conrad.

Recognition

In 2007 Gibbon's novel "Margaret Harding" was adapted into a screenplay by Meg Rickards who directed the mini-series and the made-for-TV feature film for SABC.

Publications

Poetry

• African Items: A volume of verse. London: Elliott Stock, 1903.

Novels

• Souls In Bondage. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1904.
• Salvator. Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood, 1908; New York: Doublday, Page, 1909.
• Flower o' the Peach. New York: Century, 1911.
• The Adventures Of Miss Gregory. London: J.M. Dent, 1912. New York: Putnam, 1913.
• Margaret Harding. London: Methuen, 1911; Cape Town: David Phillip, 1983.

Short fiction

• The Vrouw Grobelaar's Leading Cases. Edinburgh & London: William Blackwood, 1905
  • also published as Vrouw Grobelaar and Her Leading Cases: Seventeen stories. New York: McClure, Phillips, 1906; Freeport, NY: Books for Libraries Press, 1970.
• The Second-Class Passenger, and other stories. London: Methuen, 1913.
• Those who Smiled, and other stories. London & New York: Cassell, 1920.
• The Dark Places: A volume of stories. London: Methuen, 1926.

Non-fiction

• The Triumph of the Royal Navy: How the German fleet came to Britain. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1918.

Except where noted, bibliographical information courtesy WorldCat.

See also

• List of South African poets

External links

Poems

• Selected Poetry of Perceval Gibbon (1879-1926) (1 poem, "Homeward Bound") at Representative Poetry Online.
• Perceval Gibbon at AllPoetry (2 poems)
• from A Treasure of South African Prose and Verse (6 poems)

Prose

• "Short stories by Perceval Gibbon" at Read Book Online.

Books

• Works by Perceval Gibbon at Project Gutenberg
• Short Stories by Perceval Gibbon at manybooks.net
• Perceval Gibbon at isfdb.

Audio/video

• Film based on "Margaret Harding"

Etc.

• Perceval Gibbon Papers at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center.