Anna M. Louw

Anna M. Louw (1913-2003) was a journalist, novelist and dramatist.

Biography

She was born Anna Margaretha Louw on the farm, Soetwater, near Calvinia. She studied English, Afrikaans, Dutch, German, French and Psychology at Stellenbosch University for her BA degree. She accompanied her husband, L. A. Hurst, to New York, where they lived for two years. At the University of Columbia she took courses in Journalism and Drawing.

Back in South Africa Anna studied at the University of Cape Town (BSocSc). She started writing soon afterwards, when married to her second husband, Gerhard Bassel. They undertook extensive travels through Europe.

Her husband died in 1990. Anna M. Louw died on 12 June, 2003, at Rondebosch, Cape Town.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

Her plays include the one-act plays Goud and Die Beskermengel, and Oom Kolie Gee Raad (a comedy in three acts), Seun van die Daeraad and Die Strydperk (nominated for the SACPAC drama prize 1984, 1985, but was apparently not published).

A radio play, Twee Broeders Reis Saam, was published in Hoorspelkeur Tafelberg 1983.

Her novel, Die Voortreflike Familie Smit ("The excellent family Smit") was adapted as a film in 1965 and later also adapted as a TV series.