André Brink
Encyclopedia
André Philippus Brink, OIS
, (born 29 May 1935 in Vrede
) is a South Africa
n novel
ist. He writes in Afrikaans and English
and is a Professor of English at the University of Cape Town
.
In the 1960s he, Ingrid Jonker
and Breyten Breytenbach
were key figures in the Afrikaans
literary movement known as Die Sestigers ("The Sixty-ers"). These writers sought to use Afrikaans as a language to speak against the apartheid government, and also to bring into Afrikaans literature
the influence of contemporary English
and French
trends.
His novel Kennis van die aand ("Knowledge of the night") (1973) was the first Afrikaans book to be banned by the South African government. André Brink translated Kennis van die aand into English and published it abroad as Looking on Darkness. This was his first self-translation
. Since then André Brink writes his works simultaneously in English and Afrikaans.
While Brink's early novels were especially concerned with apartheid, his more recent work engages the new range issues posed by life in a democratic South Africa.
Brink's son, Anton Brink, is an artist.
Order of Ikhamanga
The Order of Ikhamanga is a South African honour. It was instituted on 30 November 2003 and is granted by the President of South Africa for achievements in arts, culture, literature, music, journalism, and sports...
, (born 29 May 1935 in Vrede
Vrede
Vrede a is town in the Free State province of South Africa that is the agricultural hub of a 100 km² region. Maize, wheat, mutton, wool, beef, dairy products and poultry are farmed in the region. The town was established here after a dispute arose regarding as to where to set up the town in...
) is a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist. He writes in Afrikaans and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and is a Professor of English at the University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
.
In the 1960s he, Ingrid Jonker
Ingrid Jonker
Ingrid Jonker , was a South African poet. Although she wrote in Afrikaans, her poems have been widely translated into other languages...
and Breyten Breytenbach
Breyten Breytenbach
Breyten Breytenbach is a South African writer and painter with French citizenship.-Biography:Breyten Breytenbach was born in Bonnievale, Western Cape, approximately 180 km from Cape Town and 100 km from the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas...
were key figures in the Afrikaans
Afrikaans
Afrikaans is a West Germanic language, spoken natively in South Africa and Namibia. It is a daughter language of Dutch, originating in its 17th century dialects, collectively referred to as Cape Dutch .Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch; see , , , , , .Afrikaans was historically called Cape...
literary movement known as Die Sestigers ("The Sixty-ers"). These writers sought to use Afrikaans as a language to speak against the apartheid government, and also to bring into Afrikaans literature
Afrikaans literature
Afrikaans literature is literature written in Afrikaans – especially since the standardization of the Afrikaans language from 14 August 1875 to the beginning of the twentieth century. Afrikaans is a daughter language of Dutch and is spoken by the majority of people in the Western Cape of South Africa...
the influence of contemporary English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
and French
French literature
French literature is, generally speaking, literature written in the French language, particularly by citizens of France; it may also refer to literature written by people living in France who speak traditional languages of France other than French. Literature written in French language, by citizens...
trends.
His novel Kennis van die aand ("Knowledge of the night") (1973) was the first Afrikaans book to be banned by the South African government. André Brink translated Kennis van die aand into English and published it abroad as Looking on Darkness. This was his first self-translation
Self-translation
Self-translation is a translation of a source text into a target text by the writer of the source text. Self-translation occurs in various writing situations...
. Since then André Brink writes his works simultaneously in English and Afrikaans.
While Brink's early novels were especially concerned with apartheid, his more recent work engages the new range issues posed by life in a democratic South Africa.
Brink's son, Anton Brink, is an artist.
Works
For a more comprehensive publication list, see the Afrikaans article on André P Brink.Novels
- The Ambassador
- Looking on Darkness
- An Instant in the Wind
- Rumours of RainRumours of RainRumours of Rain is a South African novel by André Brink, published in . It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It is set on a South African farm during apartheid.-Plot summary:...
(1978) - A Dry White SeasonA Dry White SeasonA Dry White Season is a film released in 1989 by Davros Films and Sundance Productions and distributed by MGM. It was directed by Euzhan Palcy and produced by Paula Weinstein, Mary Selway and Tim Hampton. The screenplay was by Colin Welland and Euzhan Palcy, based upon André Brink's novel of the...
(1979) - A Chain of Voices
- The Wall of the Plague
- States of Emergency
- An Act of TerrorAn Act of TerrorAn Act of Terror is a novel by Andre Brink, first published in 1991.-Plot summary:The novel deals with the lead-up to, execution and consequences of, a bungled assassination attempt whose target is the unnamed State President of South Africa...
- The First Life of AdamastorAdamastorAdamastor is a Greek-type mythological character famed by the Portuguese poet Luís de Camões in his epic poem Os Lusíadas , as a symbol of the forces of nature Portuguese navigators had to overcome during their discoveries...
(1993) - On the Contrary
- Imaginings of SandImaginings of SandImaginings of Sand is a South African novel by André Brink, published in 1996. The author wrote the book in Afrikaans and in English. It is set in South Africa at the time of the first democratic elections.-Plot summary:...
- Devil's Valley
- The Rights of Desire
- Anderkant die Stilte (2002), translated as The Other Side of Silence
- Before I Forget (2004)
- The Other Side of Silence (2004)
- Praying Mantis (2005)
- The Blue Door (2006)
- Other Lives (2008)
Memoirs
- A Fork in the Road (2009)
- Reviewed in