R. W. Johnson

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R.W. Johnson speaking at the 10th Barry Streek Memorial lecture in Cape Town, South Africa in August 2016. RW Johnson.jpg
R.W. Johnson speaking at the 10th Barry Streek Memorial lecture in Cape Town, South Africa in August 2016.

R. W. Johnson (born 1943; Richard William, "Bill" ) is a British journalist, political scientist, and historian who lives in South Africa. [1] Born in England, he was educated at Natal University and Oxford University, as a Rhodes Scholar. He was a fellow in politics at Magdalen College, Oxford, for 26 years [2] and remains an emeritus fellow. His 2015 book Look Back in Laughter: Oxford's Postwar Golden Age is a memoir of his years at Magdalen, including his work with college president Keith Griffin to rescue the college's finances and buildings. [3] In reviewing his memoirs, The Economist described Johnson as a "romantic contrarian liberal". [4]

On his return to South Africa in 1995, he became director of the Helen Suzman Foundation in Johannesburg until 2001. [5]

He has been a South Africa correspondent for the London Sunday Times and also written for the London Review of Books [6] His articles for the LRB generally cover South African and, to a lesser extent, Zimbabwean affairs.

In early March 2009, Johnson injured his left foot while swimming. It became infected with necrotizing fasciitis [7] and his leg was amputated above the knee. [8]

Bibliography

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References

  1. ↑ The Guardian contributor profile.
  2. ↑ Ivan Fallon "'South Africa's Brave New World', By R. W. Johnson", The Independent, 17 April 2009
  3. ↑ R W Johnson: Look Back in Laughter: Oxford's Postwar Golden Age, Threshold Press (2015).
  4. ↑ "Romantic contrarian". The Economist. Retrieved 14 November 2017.
  5. ↑ Orion Archived 2009-01-06 at the Wayback Machine author profile.
  6. ↑ London Review of Books contributor page.
  7. ↑ R. W. Johnson "Diary", London Review of Books, 6 August 2009, p41
  8. ↑ "RW Johnson Loses Part of Leg After Lagoon Swim", Book SA - News, 23 March 2009
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