Adriaan Donker

Adriaan Donker (19**-2002) publisher of South African writing, cultural history and literary theory.

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

Biography

Born in Bilthoven, Holland, the Netherlands, he he trained as a publisher, inter alia with Uitgeverij Ad. Donker (a publishing firm founded in Rotterdam by his father[1] in 1934) and Collier Macmillan in London and New York City. In 1966 came to South Africa as a sales representative, going on 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 the entry on Ad. Donker Publishers )

He was the original founder and director of the Centre of Creative Arts in Durban and initiated projects like the international Poetry Festival and The Time of the Writer there.

He was awarded an honorary doctorate for his contribution to South African literature.

He died in 2002.