J.F.W. Grosskopf

Johannes Friedrich Wilhelm (J.F.W.) Grosskopf (1885–1948) was a South African academic, journalist, critic, novelist, stage director and playwright.

Biography

Youth

His father was a Lutheran missionary and his mother was also from a family of missionaries. He matriculated at Grey College in Bloemfontein.

Training

Started his tertiary education by studying languages at the University of Stellenbosch and got an M.A. Degree in 1906. After teaching for one year he continued his studies in Europe. From 1908 to 1913 he read Literature, Law and Economics at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and obtained a Dr. jur. Degree at the University of Leiden.

Career

After his studies in Europe he returned to South Africa and became a journalist and editor of the Afrikaans newspapers Ons Vaderland and Die Volksblad.

In 1920 he was appointed Professor of Political Studies at the University of Stellenbosch and in 1935 he became Head of Economics in the Department of Agriculture.

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

Apart from writing some plays in Afrikaans, Grosskopf did a lot of translation into Afrikaans from German, French and Swedish. he also published short stories in Afrikaans and English in various publications, including The South African News, Ons Moedertaal and Die Huisgenoot. He was very interested in graphic art and in 1947 he published a book about the South African landscape artist Pierneef [1].

Translated the play Die Joernalisten by German novelist and playwright Gustav Freytag [2] as Die Koerantskrywers ("The Journalists"), for the GUK Toneelvereniging in 1920.

In the 1920s, while a professor at the University of Stellenbosch, he was a member of the Unie-debatsvereniging (debating society), for which he directed several Afrikaans productions, including Koringboere ("Wheat Farmers") by D.F. Malherbe.

In Pretoria he wrote newspaper reviews of the first productions by Ons Teatertjie Toneelgroep / Volksteater

His published works include:

'n Esau: bosveld-drama in vier tonele (1920)

Die peswolk (1924) - his first one-act play.

Drie eenbedrywe (1926) - three one-act plays.

As die tuig skawe (1926)

Ou Leeumelker (1938)

Die klipdolk en ander kort-spele (1941)

Legende, drama uit ons volksverlede, 1942 Ou Leeumelker en ander vertellings, 1945 Die daad van Koedri en twee ander kort toneelstukke, 1946 Die vloek, 1946 Padbrekers: 'n mensetragedie, 1947 Hendrik Pierneef, the man and his work, 1947

the one-act play Mara (also known as Oorlog is Oorlog)

(performed by the Volksteater in Pretoria in 1940), Oorlog is Oorlog (19**), * . His full length works include ****

Oorlog is Oorlog (1927) ("War is war") by J.F.W. Grosskopf. Also known as Mara.

Awards, etc

Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans drama in 1926 (As die tuig skawe and Drie eenbedrywe).

Honorary Award of the SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns for film making in 1931.

TO BE EDITED

. Awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama in 1927.

GROSSKOPF, . Mara (verwerking van Grosskopf se Oorlog is oorlog) Anna Neethling-Pohl (regie), Volksteater, Pta. ***

GROSSKOPF Playwright and author of prose and translations. Professor of Economics at Stellenbosch University, 1920 - 1935 Grosskopf was born on 25 November, 1885, as the son of a Lutheran minister. His mother came from a family of missionaries. He matriculated from Grey-College in Bloemfontein and studied languages at the Stellenbosch University, (MA 1906). After a year of teaching, he continued his studies in Europe where he read Literature, Law and Economy at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland (1908 - 1913). He obtained a Dr. jur. at the University of Leiden. Grosskopf took part in General Pienaar's rebellion and turned journalist and editor of Ons Vaderland and Die Volksblad. In 1920 he became professor of Political Science at Stellenbosch University and Head of Economy at the Department of Agriculture in 1935. In the same year he joined Sangiro on an expedition to German East Africa. He published his first short stories in 1903/04 in The South African News and other stories in Ons Moedertaal and Die Huisgenoot. He did many translations from French, German and Swedish, was interested in the Arts and published a book on Pierneef. Johannes Grosskopf died on 3 July, 1948, at Pretoria. Awards and Honours: Hertzog Prize for Afrikaans drama in 1926. Honorary Award of the SA Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns for film making 1931, Books: 'n Esau 'n Bosveld-drama in vier tonele, 1920, Die Peswolk ( his first one-act play), 1924, the collection Drie Eenbedrywe, 1926, As die tuig skawe, 1926; Ou Leeumelker, 1938; Die Klipdolk en Ander Kort-spele, 1941; Legende, drama uit ons volksverlede, 1942; Ou Leeumelker en ander vertellings, 1945; Die daad van Koedri en twee ander kort toneelstukke, 1946; Die Vloek, 1946; Padbrekers: 'n mensetragedie, 1947; Hendrik Pierneef, the man and his work,

Sources

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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