David Philip

David Philip (1927-2009). Publisher of South African writing and theory.

Biography

He was born in St James, Cape Town, on 10 March 1927. He is a descendant of the famous missionary Dr John Philip. He studied at Oxford University where he read English Literature under C.S. Lewis. After returning to South Africa, he worked for Oxford University Press in Cape Town for seventeen years. He was a close friend of Alan Paton.

A highly respected publisher, he founded David Philip Publishers in 1971 to publish new writing in South Africa. He became a close friend of and mentor to many writers working in English over the years, and helped establish a vibrant literature in English in the country.

Selling the publishing house to Naspers in 199*, he stayed on as managing publisher. (See also David Philip Publishers in Part 3 Section 3.)

Sources

Sunday Times, 1 March 2009.

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