Alba Bouwer

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Alba Bouwer

Born 1920
Occupation Journalist
Nationality South African
Genres Children's literature
Subjects girlhood; old age; rural life
Influences

Alba Bouwer (born 1920) is a South African Afrikaans-writing journalist and author. She is best known for her series of children's stories about the experiences of a small girl called Alie growing up in the fictional location Rivierplaas in rural Free State.[1] Late in life she published a novel for adults, Die afdraand van die dag is kil (The close of the day is cold, 1992), about two women in old age.[2]

Contents

[edit] Life

Alba Bouwer was herself brought up on a farm in the Free State and went to school in Paarl. She worked as a school teacher, as a compiler and presenter of children's programmes for the South African Broadcasting Corporation, and for thirteen years as assistant editor of Sarie.[3]

[edit] Awards and honours

Alba Bouwer was awarded the Scheepers Prize for Children's Literature in 1959 and again in 1965, and the C.P. Hoogenhout Award in 1961, 1971 and 1983.[4]

Since 1989 the South African Academy of Science and Arts has presented a triennial Alba Bouwer Prize for children's literature, named in her honour. The prize has been awarded to the following recipients: Freda Linde (1989), Marietjie de Jongh and Barrie Hough (1992), Corlia Fourie (1995), Philip de Vos (1998), Martie Preller (2001), Leon de Villiers (2003), Jaco Jacobs (2006).[5]

[edit] Publications

[edit] As author

  • Stories van Rivierplaas. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1955. Illustrated by Katrine Harries
  • Nuwe stories van Rivierplaas. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1956. Illustrated by Katrine Harries
  • Abdotjie: ses verhaaltjies oor 'n Maleiertjie van die ou Kaap. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1958. Illustrated by Katrine Harries
  • "Die avonture van die eerste Afrikaanse vrou wat geneesheer geword het", a profile of Petronella van Heerden (1887-1975), the first Afrikaans woman to qualify as a doctor, published in parts in Sarie Marais, April-July 1960.[6]
  • Katrientjie van Keerweder. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1961.
  • Stories van Ruyswyck. Cape Town: Nasionale Boekhandel, 1963.
  • Stories van Bergplaas. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1963.
  • 'n Hennetjie met kuikens. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1971.
  • Vlieg, swaeltjie, vlieg ver. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1983.
  • Die afdraand van die dag is kil. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1992.
  • Alba Bouwer-omnibus. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1995. With the original illustrations by Katrine Harries.
Reissued 2007 under the title Rivierplaas: Stories van Rivierplaas, Nuwe Stories van Rivierplaas, Stories van Ruyswyck. ISBN 0624045315

[edit] As editor/compiler

  • Kom nader: bloemlesing uit die werk van M.E.R. Compiled by Alba Bouwer et al. Cape Town, 1965.
  • M.E.R., 'n Kosbare erfenis: briewe 1916-1975. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1977. Collected letters of Marie Elisabeth Rothmann (1875-1975), compiled by Alba Bouwer, Anna Rothmann and Rykie van Reenen.

[edit] As translator

  • Else Hueck-Dehio, Tippie se liefde. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1966. (From German)
  • A. A. Milne, Winnie-die-Poeh. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1985. (From English)
Reissued 2007. ISBN 0624045331.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Elwyn Jenkins, "The Growth of a National Children's Literature in English", English Academy Review 18:1 (2001), p. 148.
  2. ^ Reviewed by Fred J. Nichols in World Literature Today 68:1 (1994), p. 196.
  3. ^ Author biography at nb.co.za. Accessed 29 January 2008.
  4. ^ Details on awards to Alba Bouwer at childlit.org.za (in Afrikaans). Accessed 26 January 2008.
  5. ^ List of recipients of the Alba Bouwer Prize at storiewerf.co.za (in Afrikaans). Accessed 26 January 2008.
  6. ^ Cited in Annemarié van Niekerk, "A Woman Who Made Her Mark in History but Remained Marginalised in the Documents of History: Petronella van Heerden", Journal of Literary Studies 14:3 (1998), pp. 348-374. Available online. Accessed 26 January 2008.

[edit] Further reading

  • Thomas van der Walt (ed.), Die blink uur van mooi dinge: 'n huldiging van Alba Bouwer. Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1995.
  • Lydia Pienaar, Die kinderverhaal as literatuur. Met verwysing na werke deur Freda Linde en Alba Bouwer. [Durban, 1975].
  • Elwyn Jenkins, "Nudity, Clothing and Cultural Identity in Some South African Children's Books", English in Africa 30:1 (2003), pp. 87-102.
  • Mike Prins, "Reza de Wet herlees Alba Bouwer", Journal of Literary Studies/Tydskrif vir Literatuurwetenskap 12:4 (1996), pp. 487-501.
  • Elsa Nolte, "M. E. R. en Alba Bouwer: Kanonisering en herkanonisering", Tydskrif vir Letterkunde 32:4 (1994), pp. 15-35.
  • Elsabe Steenberg, "Die gebruik van herhaling in die werke van Alba Bouwer", Tydskrif vir Letterkunde 12:1 (1975), pp. 48-54.