Difference between revisions of "N.P. van Wyk Louw"
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| − | + | [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]] (1906-1970) was a leading [[Afrikaans]]-language poet, playwright, lecturer and cultural theorist. | |
He was the older brother of poet and major critic '''[[W.E.G. Louw]]'''. | He was the older brother of poet and major critic '''[[W.E.G. Louw]]'''. | ||
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Born [[Nicolaas Petrus van Wyk Louw]] in Sutherland, Cape Province, on 11 June 1906, he was the second of four brothers. Apart from being an author, poet and playwright, he was a scholar and a university lecturer for most of his life and he died in Johannesburg on 18 June 1970. | Born [[Nicolaas Petrus van Wyk Louw]] in Sutherland, Cape Province, on 11 June 1906, he was the second of four brothers. Apart from being an author, poet and playwright, he was a scholar and a university lecturer for most of his life and he died in Johannesburg on 18 June 1970. | ||
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The son of a lawyer, he spent his early youth in Sutherland until in 1920 the family moved to Cape Town, where he completed his schooling at SACS (South African College Schools) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_College_Schools]. | The son of a lawyer, he spent his early youth in Sutherland until in 1920 the family moved to Cape Town, where he completed his schooling at SACS (South African College Schools) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_College_Schools]. | ||
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Earned a Master's Degree in German at the [[University of Cape Town]] and received an honorary degree from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, in 1948. | Earned a Master's Degree in German at the [[University of Cape Town]] and received an honorary degree from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, in 1948. | ||
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After completing his post-graduate studies he taught at the [[University of Cape Town]] and was a professor of [[Afrikaans]] at the University of Amsterdam from 1949-1958. He finished his academic career at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] as head of the [[Dutch]]/[[Afrikaans]] Department. | After completing his post-graduate studies he taught at the [[University of Cape Town]] and was a professor of [[Afrikaans]] at the University of Amsterdam from 1949-1958. He finished his academic career at the [[University of the Witwatersrand]] as head of the [[Dutch]]/[[Afrikaans]] Department. | ||
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A member of the so-called "Dertigers" movement ("People of the thirties"), he published some of the most influential poetry in [[Afrikaans]], as well as a number of plays and works on literary theory and criticism. | A member of the so-called "Dertigers" movement ("People of the thirties"), he published some of the most influential poetry in [[Afrikaans]], as well as a number of plays and works on literary theory and criticism. | ||
| − | He is considered one of the most erudite members of that movement and an important figure in the evolution of the arts and cultural landscape of South Africa. For example, Louw played an important role as mentor to new writers (for instance he influenced the award-winning playwright, scriptwriter and TV personality [[P.G. du Plessis]] for instance) and his defense of liberalism in South Africa is reflected in his many writings on [[Afrikaner]]s, [[Afrikaner]] consciousness, language, literature and theatre, and are important documents in a theory of [[Afrikaans]] cultural thinking in the period 1935-1966. he also wrote In 1966 the production of ''[[Die Pluimsaad waai vêr]]'' brought him into direct conflict with H.F. Verwoerd regarding the freedom of the artist. | + | He is considered one of the most erudite members of that movement and an important figure in the evolution of the arts and cultural landscape of South Africa. For example, Louw played an important role as mentor to new writers (for instance he influenced the award-winning playwright, scriptwriter and TV personality [[P.G. du Plessis]] for instance) and his defense of liberalism in South Africa is reflected in his many writings on [[Afrikaner]]s, [[Afrikaner]] consciousness, language, literature and theatre, and are important documents in a theory of [[Afrikaans]] cultural thinking in the period 1935-1966. he also wrote In 1966 the production of ''[[Die Pluimsaad waai vêr]]'' brought him into direct conflict with Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd regarding the freedom of the artist. |
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| + | He was twice married, first to Joan Wessels and later to actress and theatre director [[Truida Louw]]. He also had a well-known love affair with the poet [[Sheila Cussons]] for a time. | ||
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| + | His collected poems were published posthumously by [[Tafelberg]] in 1981 and his collected prose (in two volumes) in 1986, by the same publishing house. In 2021 the first complete collection of all his '''dramatic''' writing was collated and published by [[Protea Boekhuis]], edited by [[Deborah Steinmair]] and [[Kristèl de Weerd]]. | ||
==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ==Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance== | ||
| − | In the early years he | + | In the early years he did some acting, for instance acting in a performance of [[J.F.W. Grosskopf]]'s ''[[As die tuig skawe]]'' (1927). |
| − | + | Throughout his writing career he would use [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]] as his ''nom de plume''. | |
| − | His career as dramatist began when he was commissioned to write ''[[Die Dieper Reg]]'' for [[Volksteater]] in Pretoria. He later also wrote a number of plays for radio and stage, including ''[[Die Held]]'', ''[[Dias]]'', ''[[Germanicus]]'' (perf by [[NTO]], 1957, pub. 195*), ''[[Asterion]]'', a libretto for a symphonic opera for radio (1965), ''[[Die Pluimsaad waai vêr]]'' (Perf by [[PACT]]?*:1966, Pub:1972?). | + | Besides his own writing, he also did a number of translations, including: Sacha Guitry's ''[[Huis te Koop]]'' and Maurice Maeterlinck's ''[[Die Indringer]]'' (written with his brother, ([[W.E.G. Louw]]) in 1935. |
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| + | His career as [[dramatist]] began when he was commissioned to write ''[[Die Dieper Reg]]'' for [[Volksteater]] in Pretoria. He later also wrote a number of plays for radio and stage, including ''[[Die Held]]'', ''[[Dias]]'', ''[[Germanicus]]'' (perf by [[NTO]], 1957, pub. 195*), ''[[Asterion]]'', a libretto for a symphonic opera for radio (1965), ''[[Die Pluimsaad waai vêr]]'' (Perf by [[PACT]]?*:1966, Pub:1972?). | ||
[[Truida Louw]] directed his ''[[Die Pluimsaad waai vêr]]'' at the [[Brooke Theatre]] in 1966 for [[PACT]]. His ''[[Germanicus]]'' starring [[Marius Weyers]] formed part of the opening season of the Pretoria [[State Theatre]] in 1981. *** (Tucker, 1997) | [[Truida Louw]] directed his ''[[Die Pluimsaad waai vêr]]'' at the [[Brooke Theatre]] in 1966 for [[PACT]]. His ''[[Germanicus]]'' starring [[Marius Weyers]] formed part of the opening season of the Pretoria [[State Theatre]] in 1981. *** (Tucker, 1997) | ||
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His epic poem, ''[[Raka]]'', has also been the text for numerous dramatised performances in various media over the years. | His epic poem, ''[[Raka]]'', has also been the text for numerous dramatised performances in various media over the years. | ||
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[TH, JH] | [TH, JH] | ||
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https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.P._van_Wyk_Louw#Bibliografie | https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.P._van_Wyk_Louw#Bibliografie | ||
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| + | https://www.litnet.co.za/np-van-wyk-louw-1906-1970/ | ||
https://www.litnet.co.za/versamelde-dramas-np-van-wyk-louw-n-litnet-akademies-resensie-essay/ | https://www.litnet.co.za/versamelde-dramas-np-van-wyk-louw-n-litnet-akademies-resensie-essay/ | ||
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[[J.C. Kannemeyer]] 1988. ''Die Afrikaanse Literatuur 1652-1987''. Pretoria: Human en Rousseau. | [[J.C. Kannemeyer]] 1988. ''Die Afrikaanse Literatuur 1652-1987''. Pretoria: Human en Rousseau. | ||
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| + | [[J.C. Steyn]]. 1998. ''Van Wyk Louw: 'n lewensverhaal'' (in 2 volumes) Cape Town: [[Tafelberg]] | ||
[[Ampie Muller]] and [[Beverley Roos-Muller]] (eds). 2020. ''Vuur In Sy Vingers – Die Verreikende Invloed Van NP Van Wyk Louw'', [[Hemel en See Boeke]]. | [[Ampie Muller]] and [[Beverley Roos-Muller]] (eds). 2020. ''Vuur In Sy Vingers – Die Verreikende Invloed Van NP Van Wyk Louw'', [[Hemel en See Boeke]]. | ||
Latest revision as of 07:05, 10 February 2025
N.P. van Wyk Louw (1906-1970) was a leading Afrikaans-language poet, playwright, lecturer and cultural theorist.
He was the older brother of poet and major critic W.E.G. Louw.
Contents
Biography
Born Nicolaas Petrus van Wyk Louw in Sutherland, Cape Province, on 11 June 1906, he was the second of four brothers. Apart from being an author, poet and playwright, he was a scholar and a university lecturer for most of his life and he died in Johannesburg on 18 June 1970.
The son of a lawyer, he spent his early youth in Sutherland until in 1920 the family moved to Cape Town, where he completed his schooling at SACS (South African College Schools) [1].
Earned a Master's Degree in German at the University of Cape Town and received an honorary degree from the University of Utrecht, the Netherlands, in 1948.
After completing his post-graduate studies he taught at the University of Cape Town and was a professor of Afrikaans at the University of Amsterdam from 1949-1958. He finished his academic career at the University of the Witwatersrand as head of the Dutch/Afrikaans Department.
A member of the so-called "Dertigers" movement ("People of the thirties"), he published some of the most influential poetry in Afrikaans, as well as a number of plays and works on literary theory and criticism.
He is considered one of the most erudite members of that movement and an important figure in the evolution of the arts and cultural landscape of South Africa. For example, Louw played an important role as mentor to new writers (for instance he influenced the award-winning playwright, scriptwriter and TV personality P.G. du Plessis for instance) and his defense of liberalism in South Africa is reflected in his many writings on Afrikaners, Afrikaner consciousness, language, literature and theatre, and are important documents in a theory of Afrikaans cultural thinking in the period 1935-1966. he also wrote In 1966 the production of Die Pluimsaad waai vêr brought him into direct conflict with Prime Minister H.F. Verwoerd regarding the freedom of the artist.
He was twice married, first to Joan Wessels and later to actress and theatre director Truida Louw. He also had a well-known love affair with the poet Sheila Cussons for a time.
His collected poems were published posthumously by Tafelberg in 1981 and his collected prose (in two volumes) in 1986, by the same publishing house. In 2021 the first complete collection of all his dramatic writing was collated and published by Protea Boekhuis, edited by Deborah Steinmair and Kristèl de Weerd.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
In the early years he did some acting, for instance acting in a performance of J.F.W. Grosskopf's As die tuig skawe (1927).
Throughout his writing career he would use N.P. van Wyk Louw as his nom de plume.
Besides his own writing, he also did a number of translations, including: Sacha Guitry's Huis te Koop and Maurice Maeterlinck's Die Indringer (written with his brother, (W.E.G. Louw) in 1935.
His career as dramatist began when he was commissioned to write Die Dieper Reg for Volksteater in Pretoria. He later also wrote a number of plays for radio and stage, including Die Held, Dias, Germanicus (perf by NTO, 1957, pub. 195*), Asterion, a libretto for a symphonic opera for radio (1965), Die Pluimsaad waai vêr (Perf by PACT?*:1966, Pub:1972?).
Truida Louw directed his Die Pluimsaad waai vêr at the Brooke Theatre in 1966 for PACT. His Germanicus starring Marius Weyers formed part of the opening season of the Pretoria State Theatre in 1981. *** (Tucker, 1997)
His published dramas include: Dias (1951); Germanicus (1956); Koning-Eenoog of nie vir geleerdes (1960); Dagboek van ‘n Soldaat (1961); Lewenslyn (1962); Die Held (1962); Kruger Breek die Pad Oop (1964); Die Pluimsaad Waai Ver (1966), Berei in die Woestyn (1968), Blomme in die Winter a radio drama in 1974, Lewenslyn a radio drama, Die Val van 'n Regverdige Man as radio drama.
His epic poem, Raka, has also been the text for numerous dramatised performances in various media over the years.
[TH, JH]
Awards, etc
He was awarded the Hertzog Prize five times:
Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans drama in 1960 (Germanicus).
Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans poetry (1937, 1940 and 1965).
Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans prose (1958).
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._P._van_Wyk_Louw
https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.P._van_Wyk_Louw#Bibliografie
https://www.litnet.co.za/np-van-wyk-louw-1906-1970/
https://www.litnet.co.za/versamelde-dramas-np-van-wyk-louw-n-litnet-akademies-resensie-essay/
Ludwig Wilhelm Berthold Binge 1969. Ontwikkeling van die Afrikaanse toneel (1832-1950). Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik.
J.C. Kannemeyer 1983. Geskiedenis van die Afrikaanse Literatuur II. Pretoria: Academica (Second edition, 1984[2]).
J.C. Kannemeyer 1988. Die Afrikaanse Literatuur 1652-1987. Pretoria: Human en Rousseau.
J.C. Steyn. 1998. Van Wyk Louw: 'n lewensverhaal (in 2 volumes) Cape Town: Tafelberg
Ampie Muller and Beverley Roos-Muller (eds). 2020. Vuur In Sy Vingers – Die Verreikende Invloed Van NP Van Wyk Louw, Hemel en See Boeke.
Luc Renders. 2007. "Die dramatiese werk van NP van Wyk Louw: met volk-wees as inspirasie 2002", LitNet 2007-06-13[3]
Deborah Steinmair en Kristèl de Weerd. 2021. Versamelde dramas – NP Van Wyk Louw. Pretoria: Protea Boekhuis
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