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==Early life==
==Early life==
Tony Eprile was born in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa in 1955 to [[Jewish]] parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biu.ac.il/hu/en/cw/ilanot/interview.html|title=the ILANOT Review|website=www.biu.ac.il}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZKzAwAAQBAJ&dq=Tony+Eprile+born&pg=PA93|title=The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Volume 10: 1973-2005|first=Posen Library of Jewish culture and civilization (Lucerne|last=Switzerland)|date=November 20, 2012|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300135534|via=Google Books}}</ref> He emigrated with his parents to the United States between 1970 and 1972<ref name=JJ>{{Cite web |first=Sandee |last=Brawarsky |url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/10124/ |title='Memory' Shapes Life and History|website=Jewish Journal |date=September 9, 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/books/2004/06/13/laughter-and-forgetting/817c3d5e-378b-443e-80ea-5f3414511404/|title=Laughter and Forgetting|first=Frances|last=Taliaferro |type=book review |date=June 13, 2004|newspaper=Washington Post }}</ref> At the age of 17, Eprile then a recent arrival in the United States, took a writing class at college. He produced a South African-themed short story titled, "Cough’s Tokoloshe", with the [[tokoloshe]] employed as a metaphor for white fears. Year later, he gave a copy of the story to a visiting poet, [[Robert Hayden]]. Hayden invited him to talk to him about the story, and they became friends, with Hayden acting as an important mentor to Eprile.<ref>[https://www.massreview.org/node/713 10 Questions for Tony Eprile] ''The Massachusetts Review''. 15 February 2017</ref>
Tony Eprile was born in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa in 1955 to [[Jewish]] parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.biu.ac.il/hu/en/cw/ilanot/interview.html|title=the ILANOT Review|website=www.biu.ac.il}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZKzAwAAQBAJ&dq=Tony+Eprile+born&pg=PA93|title=The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Volume 10: 1973-2005|first=Posen Library of Jewish culture and civilization (Lucerne|last=Switzerland)|date=November 20, 2012|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=9780300135534|via=Google Books}}</ref>His mother, Liesel Weil was a from a well-to-do [[German Jewish]] family in [[Frankfurt]] that were adherents of [[Reform Judaism|Liberal Judaism]].<ref name=tab/> Amid the rise of the [[Nazi Party]] in Germany, she emigrated to South Africa in 1936 at the age of seventeen.<ref name=tab/> Eprile's father, Cecil Eprile, a [[History of the Jews in Scotland|Scottish Jew]], also arrived in South Africa in 1936.<ref name=tab/> Cecil was the editor of the ''Golden City Post'', a liberal newspaper catering to a black South African readership and advocating for the end of [[apartheid]].<ref>[https://www.oprah.com/book/reading-room-sept-2018-the-prison-letters-of-nelson-mandela?editors_pick_id=74590 17 Books to Kick-Start Fall] ''Oprah''. 24 August 2018 </ref><ref name=tab/>
In the late 1960s, he emigrated to [[England]] with his parents and brother when he was 12 years-old.<ref name=tab/> The family then emigrated to the United States between 1970 and 1972<ref name=JJ>{{Cite web |first=Sandee |last=Brawarsky |url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/10124/ |title='Memory' Shapes Life and History|website=Jewish Journal |date=September 9, 2004 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/entertainment/books/2004/06/13/laughter-and-forgetting/817c3d5e-378b-443e-80ea-5f3414511404/|title=Laughter and Forgetting|first=Frances|last=Taliaferro |type=book review |date=June 13, 2004|newspaper=Washington Post }}</ref> At the age of 17, Eprile then a recent arrival in the United States, took a writing class at college. He produced a South African-themed short story titled, "Cough’s Tokoloshe", with the [[tokoloshe]] employed as a metaphor for white fears. Year later, he gave a copy of the story to a visiting poet, [[Robert Hayden]]. Hayden invited him to talk to him about the story, and they became friends, with Hayden acting as an important mentor to Eprile.<ref>[https://www.massreview.org/node/713 10 Questions for Tony Eprile] ''The Massachusetts Review''. 15 February 2017</ref>


He attended [[Connecticut College]], graduating with a BA in Anthropology. He later graduated with an MA in Creative Writing from [[Brown University]].<ref>[https://lesley.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/tony-eprile Tony Eprile] Lesley University. Retrieved on 6 September 2024</ref>
He attended [[Connecticut College]], graduating with a BA in Anthropology. He later graduated with an MA in Creative Writing from [[Brown University]].<ref>[https://lesley.edu/about/faculty-staff-directory/tony-eprile Tony Eprile] Lesley University. Retrieved on 6 September 2024</ref>
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He has taught at [[Northwestern University]], [[Williams College]], [[Bennington College]], [[Lesley University]], and the [[Iowa Writers' Workshop]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2j_ieNDsU4C&dq=Tony+Eprile+born+johannesburg&pg=PA89|title=The Columbia Guide to South African Literature in English Since 1945|first1=Gareth|last1=Cornwell|first2=Dirk|last2=Klopper|first3=Craig|last3=Mackenzie|date=April 13, 2010|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=9780231503815|via=Google Books}}</ref>
He has taught at [[Northwestern University]], [[Williams College]], [[Bennington College]], [[Lesley University]], and the [[Iowa Writers' Workshop]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j2j_ieNDsU4C&dq=Tony+Eprile+born+johannesburg&pg=PA89|title=The Columbia Guide to South African Literature in English Since 1945|first1=Gareth|last1=Cornwell|first2=Dirk|last2=Klopper|first3=Craig|last3=Mackenzie|date=April 13, 2010|publisher=Columbia University Press|isbn=9780231503815|via=Google Books}}</ref>


He has also written about literature and writers for publications such as ''[[The Nation]]'' and ''[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]]''.<ref>[https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/gordimers-way/ Gordimer’s Way] ''The Nation''. 16 September 2014</ref>
As a guest columnist he has also been published by publications such as ''[[The Nation]]'' and ''[[Tablet (magazine)|Tablet]]''.<ref>[https://www.thenation.com/article/archive/gordimers-way/ Gordimer’s Way] ''The Nation''. 16 September 2014</ref><ref name=tab>[https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/putting-out-the-unwelcome-mat Putting Out the Unwelcome Mat] ''Tablet''. 27 February 2017</ref>


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
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[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:South African writers]]
[[Category:South African writers]]
[[Category:South African people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:South African people of British-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:Jewish American novelists]]
[[Category:Jewish American novelists]]

Revision as of 14:30, 6 September 2024

Tony Eprile
Born1955
Johannesburg, South Africa
OccupationNovelist
EducationConnecticut College; Brown University
GenreDrama, fiction, short stories
Notable awardsKoret Jewish Book Award (2005)

Tony Eprile is a South African and American writer. His 2004 novel, The Persistence of Memory, won the Koret Jewish Book Award in 2005.

Early life

Tony Eprile was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1955 to Jewish parents.[1][2]His mother, Liesel Weil was a from a well-to-do German Jewish family in Frankfurt that were adherents of Liberal Judaism.[3] Amid the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, she emigrated to South Africa in 1936 at the age of seventeen.[3] Eprile's father, Cecil Eprile, a Scottish Jew, also arrived in South Africa in 1936.[3] Cecil was the editor of the Golden City Post, a liberal newspaper catering to a black South African readership and advocating for the end of apartheid.[4][3]

In the late 1960s, he emigrated to England with his parents and brother when he was 12 years-old.[3] The family then emigrated to the United States between 1970 and 1972[5][6] At the age of 17, Eprile then a recent arrival in the United States, took a writing class at college. He produced a South African-themed short story titled, "Cough’s Tokoloshe", with the tokoloshe employed as a metaphor for white fears. Year later, he gave a copy of the story to a visiting poet, Robert Hayden. Hayden invited him to talk to him about the story, and they became friends, with Hayden acting as an important mentor to Eprile.[7]

He attended Connecticut College, graduating with a BA in Anthropology. He later graduated with an MA in Creative Writing from Brown University.[8]

Career

Eprile is the author of the 1989 book Temporary Sojourner and Other South African Stories,[9] which was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.[10]

His 2004 book The Persistence of Memory[5][11][12] won the Koret Jewish Book Award.[13] The novel was also a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and was listed as a best book of 2004 by The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times.[citation needed]

He has taught at Northwestern University, Williams College, Bennington College, Lesley University, and the Iowa Writers' Workshop.[14]

As a guest columnist he has also been published by publications such as The Nation and Tablet.[15][3]

Personal life

Eprile lives in Vermont in the United States with his wife, Judith D. Schwartz, whom he married in 1989.[16][17]

Publications

Short stories

  • Temporary Sojourner and Other South African Stories (1989)

Novels

References

  1. ^ "the ILANOT Review". www.biu.ac.il.
  2. ^ Switzerland), Posen Library of Jewish culture and civilization (Lucerne (20 November 2012). The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, Volume 10: 1973-2005. Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300135534 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Putting Out the Unwelcome Mat Tablet. 27 February 2017
  4. ^ 17 Books to Kick-Start Fall Oprah. 24 August 2018
  5. ^ a b Brawarsky, Sandee (9 September 2004). "'Memory' Shapes Life and History". Jewish Journal.
  6. ^ Taliaferro, Frances (13 June 2004). "Laughter and Forgetting". Washington Post (book review).
  7. ^ 10 Questions for Tony Eprile The Massachusetts Review. 15 February 2017
  8. ^ Tony Eprile Lesley University. Retrieved on 6 September 2024
  9. ^ Rochman, Hazel (20 August 1989). "Where Men Are Boys Even Now" – via NYTimes.com.
  10. ^ "Eprile, Tony 1955(?)- | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com.
  11. ^ Tait, Theo (8 August 2004). "Truth and Reconciliation". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "Ah, but the land is unforgettable". Los Angeles Times. 18 July 2004.
  13. ^ "Jewish book awards get facelift". 7 March 2006.
  14. ^ Cornwell, Gareth; Klopper, Dirk; Mackenzie, Craig (13 April 2010). The Columbia Guide to South African Literature in English Since 1945. Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231503815 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ Gordimer’s Way The Nation. 16 September 2014
  16. ^ about https://www.judithdschwartz.com. Retrieved on 6 September 2024
  17. ^ Judith Schwartz Weds Tony Eprile The New York Times. 29 October 1989
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