Adriaan Donker

Adriaan Donker (19**-2002) Publisher of South African writing and theory.

Generally referred to as Ad Donker (also found as AD Donker).

Biography

Born in Holland, he trained as a publisher and came to South Africa in 19**, to become a highly respected local publisher and charismatic personality, who founded the influential publishing firm Ad Donker Publishers to publish new writing in South Africa.

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

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 moved to France, though he stayed on as consultant, and in fact returned for a while to work in Natal in the 1990s. (For books published by him, see also Ad Donker Publishers )

He died in 2002.

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