Moederloos

Moederloos (lit "motherless") is a Dutch and Afrikaans play, based on an English a story by Fanny Eden (Fanny Eadon Horner, 1849–1945).

The original text

The play seems to be based on Moederloos!, a Dutch translation of the English tale Motherless! by Fanny Eden (Fanny Eadon Horner, 1801-1849). The tale was published W.B. Horner & Son, London & Dublin in Horner's Penny stories for the people. no. 73, [approximately 1889] and the better known Dutch version first published in Doetinchem by C. Misset, ca. 1896.

Translations and adaptations

The Dutch version appears to have been adapted for the stage sometime in the early 20th century, and was then translated into Afrikaans. The name of the actual translator is uncertain, the sources mentioning three names at least (Jean Plaat-Stultjes, Ignatius Mocke and J.S. Marais). The Dutch text was probably translated by Marais initially, for the 1926 publication and then later performed by Plaat-Stultjes with a text (possibly adapted by himself, perhaps with some help from Mocke), and on Plaat-Stultje's death, Mocke did another version for Willem van Zyl.

Published in Afrikaans as Moederloos by J.H. de Bussy in 1926.