The Book of Tongues

The Book of Tongues is a 2008 book by South African poet and writer Rustum Kozain. It was published by Kwela Books and is identified in reference material as one of Kozain’s two poetry collections. The book belongs to the literary publishing sphere rather than to a conventional commercial brand portfolio: its identity is tied to its title, author, edition, publisher, and reception as a work of South African literature. Kozain was born in Paarl, South Africa, and studied at the University of Cape Town. His academic work included doctoral research on selected South African poetry in English from 1970 to 1990, a background that places The Book of Tongues within a sustained engagement with the country’s English-language poetic tradition. During 1994 and 1995 he attended Bowling Green State University in Ohio on a Fulbright Scholarship. He later lectured at the University of Cape Town from 1998 to 2004. The book followed Kozain’s earlier collection This Carting Life, published by Kwela Books in 2005, and preceded Groundwork, also published by Kwela Books in 2012. His wider output includes poetry, reviews, essays, and short fiction. His literary career received recognition through awards including the Philip Stein Poetry Award, the Thomas Pringle Award, the Ingrid Jonker Prize, and the Olive Schreiner Prize. The latter was awarded to him twice, in 2007 and 2014, making him one of only two writers reported to have won the Olive Schreiner Prize twice. Available reference material does not provide sufficient information to describe the book’s full contents, formal structure, sales, distribution, cover editions, translations, or current commercial availability. It also does not establish a separate corporate entity, product family, marketing organization, or operating headquarters for the title. Accordingly, The Book of Tongues is best recorded as a literary product associated with its author and publisher, rather than as an independently incorporated or internationally managed consumer brand.

The Book of Tongues was published in 2008 by Kwela Books and written by Rustum Kozain, a South African poet and writer born in Paarl. The title forms part of Kozain’s published literary career, which includes poetry collections as well as reviews, essays, and short fiction. Kozain studied at the University of Cape Town, where his academic interests included South African poetry in English from 1970 to 1990. In 1994 and 1995, he pursued study at Bowling Green State University in Ohio as a Fulbright Scholar. From 1998 through 2004 he worked as a lecturer at the University of Cape Town. These academic and professional experiences provide context for his engagement with South African literary history and English-language writing. Before The Book of Tongues, Kozain published This Carting Life with Kwela Books in 2005. The earlier collection received significant literary recognition, including the Ingrid Jonker Prize in 2005. Kozain also received the Philip Stein Poetry Award in 1997 and the Thomas Pringle Award in 2004. The Olive Schreiner Prize was awarded to him in 2007 and again in 2014; reference material identifies him as one of only two writers to have won that prize twice. The Book of Tongues therefore appeared during a period in which Kozain had already established a recognized position in South African poetry. The author later published Groundwork with Kwela Books in 2012. Beyond these books, his work has circulated through reviews, essays, short fiction, and material associated with his personal Groundwork website. Public reference material supplied for this dossier does not provide a detailed synopsis of The Book of Tongues, information about subsequent editions, translation history, sales performance, or a documented promotional campaign. Its known historical significance is consequently bibliographic and literary: it is a 2008 Kozain title issued by Kwela Books and part of the author’s continuing contribution to South African poetry.

• 2008

  Publication by Kwela Books

  [1]Rustum Kozainen.wikipedia.org

  Kwela Books published The Book of Tongues by South African poet and writer Rustum Kozain.

A South African literary work situated in contemporary English-language poetry and associated with the writing of Rustum Kozain.

• Poetry book · 2008

  The Book of Tongues

  A 2008 literary book by Rustum Kozain, published by Kwela Books. It is identified as one of the author’s poetry collections and belongs to the South African English-language literary tradition. The supplied references do not provide a detailed account of its poems, themes, editions, translations, or current availability.

1. 1Rustum Kozainen.wikipedia.org
2. 2The Book of Tongues listingchimurengalibrary.co.za