Carol Leff is a Research Associate at the Institute for the Study of the Englishes of Africa at
Rhodes University. Her long association with the institute reflects sustained engagement with
its research culture through scholarship, publishing, and creative practice. She completed her
PhD in Literary Studies in English in 2018 and later served as Publications Manager
(2023–2025), overseeing the editorial production and publication of the institute’s scholarly
journals. She also coordinated the Aerial short course in Creative Writing for several years.
Her research and creative practice engage the environmental humanities, with a particular
focus on ecocriticism, the blue humanities, and artistic methods for exploring ecological
relationships and place. Alongside her scholarly work, she maintains an active creative
practice in writing and cyanotype printing.
As a Research Associate, she continues to pursue independent research and creative practice
while maintaining an active intellectual affiliation with the institute. She welcomes
opportunities for scholarly collaboration and dialogue within the institute’s research
community and beyond.
Teaching & Research Interests:
South African Literature, transnational literature, ecocriticism, blue humanities,
hydrofeminism, artivism, cyanotype printing.
Selected Publications:
Books:
2022 The Afropolitan Flâneur in Literature. Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
2009 Flashes (poetry collection). Aerial Publishing.
Book Chapters:
2016 “Night Writers: The Creative Writing Short Course.” In ISEA 1964–2014 A South
African Research Institute Serving People, edited by M. Hendricks, 121–144. NISC (Pty)
Ltd.
2015 “Gravesites in the Stories of Herman Charles Bosman: An Exploration of History,
Memory, Ritual, Identity, and Landscape.” in The Final Crossing: Death and Dying
in Literature, edited by John J. Han and C. Clark Triplett. Peter Lang Publishing.
Articles in journals:
2022 “Magiese verbintenisse tussen natuur en groen wesens.” (trans. Elodi Troskie).
Klyntji.
2022 “Seeds of Thought: From PhD to Published Book.” ANFASA Magazine, 6.4, 6–7.
2018 “Flâneusing the City: Cape Town through the Eyes of an Unnamed Female Narrator
in Patricia Schonstein-Pinnock’s Skyline.” De Genere Journal of Literary,
Postcolonial and Gender Studies 4.
2016 “Bosman: A Man of Profound Contradictions.” English in Africa 43.1, 109–129.
Book Reviews:
2019 “The Routledge Diaspora Studies Reader.” Review published in Scrutiny2, 24:1, 104–
109.
Creative writing: Leff has published poetry, short fiction and memoir in a range of literary
journals and anthologies, including Stanzas, New Coin, Aerial, New Contrast, Scrutiny2,
Tyume. Her work has also appeared on digital platforms such as Botsotso and the AVBOB
Poetry Project.
Cyanotype Practice: Leff works with cyanotype printing as a creative method for exploring
ecological relationships and place. Her work has appeared in group exhibitions including Art
on the Verandah, Bushman’s River (2024), and the Corona Sunsets Festival, Muldersdrift
(2025). A solo exhibition is currently in preparation for 2027–2028.
Community Engagement: Leff contributes her artwork to community initiatives and
fundraising events. Selected cyanotype works have been donated to the Johan Carinus Art
Centre, and the Fynbos Life Botanical Art Auction 2026, supporting conservation and
scientific initiatives. She is currently developing a collaborative project addressing the
environmental dangers of ocean plastics.
Institutional and Professional Activities
External Examiner: MA (Creative Writing), University of Cape Town
Member: English Academy of Southern Africa; Professional Editors’ Guild
Affiliate: Intersecting Diasporas Research Group
Editorial Board: New Coin Poetry Journal
Peer Reviewer: CompLit: Journal of European Literature, Arts and Society; English in
Africa; Journal of Literary Studies; Scrutiny2
Public Engagements:
2026: Invited speaker Biennial Herman Charles Bosman Memorial Lecture, North-West
University (title and date forthcoming).
2017: Guest Speaker at “Freelancing for Success,” 9th Annual Student Conference,
Department of Public Relations and Communication Studies, Nelson Mandela
University.
Last Modified: Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:49:47 SAST