Breytenbach, Breyten (1939– )

South African writer. In 1975 he was sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement with the anti-apartheid movement. His prison autobiography, The True Confessions of an Albino Terrorist (1984), is regarded as a classic of prison literature. He has also published novels noted for their blend of fantasy and realism, such as Memory of Snow and Dust (1989), and volumes of poetry in Afrikaans, including And Death White As Words (1978).

Much of Breytenbach's writing, including the travel commentaries A Season in Paradise (1981), Return to Paradise (1993), and Dogheart (1999), explores the anguish of the dissident who has rejected his own Afrikaner heritage but can never quite be African. Other works include the novel Mouroir: Mirror Notes of a Novel (1984), and the volumes of poetry In Africa Even the Flies are Happy (1978) and Judas Eye (1988). A volume of non-fiction, End Papers: Essays, Letters, Articles of Faith, Workbook Notes, appeared in 1986.