C. Louis Leipoldt
Encyclopedia
Dr. Christian Frederik Louis Leipoldt (December 28, 1880
– April 12, 1947) was a South Africa
n poet
, who wrote in
the Afrikaans
language. Together with Jan F. E. Celliers
and
J. D. du Toit (published as Totius), he was one of the leading figures in the poetry of the
Second Afrikaans Movement. Apart from poetry, Louis Leipoldt (Loo-ee
LAY-polt) wrote novels, plays, stories, children's books, cookbooks and a travel
diary. He is numbered amongst the greatest of the Afrikaner poets and he was
described by D. J. Opperman
, himself a noted South African poet, as "our
most versatile artist".
in the Cape Province
, the son of a preacher, Christian Friedrich Leipoldt, of the NG Kerk
in Clanwilliam, and grandson of the Rhenish missionary, Johann Gottlieb Leipoldt, who founded Wupperthal in the Cederberg
. His mother was Anna Meta Christiana Esselen, daughter of Louis Franz Esselen (1817–1893), another Rhenish missionary at Worcester. His early education was largely at home and for a while, during the
Second Boer War
, he was a reporter. Between 1902 and 1907, with funding
from the botanist Harry Bolus
, he read medicine at Guy's Hospital
in
London and then travelled in Europe, America and the East Indies. At times his health was poor. For a period of some six months during 1908, he was the personal physician of the American newspaper magnate, Joseph Pulitzer
, aboad Pulitzer's yacht. Later Leipoldt's career was varied: for a period he was a school doctor in London, before becoming the Medical Inspector of Schools in the Transvaal
and then in the Cape Province. He returned to journalism for a while (1923) but finally settled down as a pediatrician
in Cape Town
in 1925. He never married. He died in Cape Town but, because of
his deep love for the Hantam—a beautiful, mountainous and wild district north of Cape Town
—his ashes were laid to rest in the rugged Pakhuis Pass
(Storehouse Pass), near Clanwilliam.
His grave is situated at the base of a cave-like opening on the mountain face. Directly above his tombstone faint bushman drawings can be seen that were drawn many years before his death.
(Translated by C. J. D Harvey)
Leipoldt wrote much about nature in general and in particular about the
landscapes and legends of his beloved Hantam. His poetry also deals with the
suffering caused by the Second Boer War and the culture and values of the
Cape Malays
. Most of his work does not translate well into English.
The Louis Leipoldt Primary School in Lyttelton (Centurion) is named after C. Louis Leipoldt.
– April 12, 1947) was 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 poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, who wrote 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...
language. Together with Jan F. E. Celliers
Jan F. E. Celliers
Jan Francois Elias Celliers, almost universally known as Jan F.E. Celliers, but occasionally as Jan F.E. Cilliers was an Afrikaans-language poet, essayist, dramatist and reviewer....
and
J. D. du Toit (published as Totius), he was one of the leading figures in the poetry of the
Second Afrikaans Movement. Apart from poetry, Louis Leipoldt (Loo-ee
LAY-polt) wrote novels, plays, stories, children's books, cookbooks and a travel
diary. He is numbered amongst the greatest of the Afrikaner poets and he was
described by D. J. Opperman
D. J. Opperman
Diederik Johannes Opperman was one of the best-known Afrikaans poets of the twentieth century.He was born on 29 September 1914 in Dundee in Natal, where he grew up. He went to school in the towns of Estcourt and Vryheid, and afterwards received an M.A. degree from the University of Natal...
, himself a noted South African poet, as "our
most versatile artist".
His life
Leipoldt was born in WorcesterWorcester, Western Cape
Worcester is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa. It is located 120 km north-east of Cape Town on the N1 highway north to Johannesburg....
in the Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, the son of a preacher, Christian Friedrich Leipoldt, of the NG Kerk
Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk
The Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk is a Reformed Christian denomination in South Africa. It also has a presence in neighboring countries, such as Namibia, Swaziland, and parts of Botswana and Zimbabwe...
in Clanwilliam, and grandson of the Rhenish missionary, Johann Gottlieb Leipoldt, who founded Wupperthal in the Cederberg
Cederberg
The Cederberg mountains and nature reserve are located near Clanwilliam, approximately 300 km north of Cape Town, South Africa at about . The mountain range is named after the endangered Clanwilliam Cedar , which is a tree endemic to the area. The mountains are noted for dramatic rock...
. His mother was Anna Meta Christiana Esselen, daughter of Louis Franz Esselen (1817–1893), another Rhenish missionary at Worcester. His early education was largely at home and for a while, during the
Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, he was a reporter. Between 1902 and 1907, with funding
from the botanist Harry Bolus
Harry Bolus
Harry Bolus was a South African botanist, botanical artist, businessman and philanthropist. He advanced botany in South Africa by establishing bursaries, founding the and bequeathing his library and a large part of his fortune to the South African College...
, he read medicine at Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
in
London and then travelled in Europe, America and the East Indies. At times his health was poor. For a period of some six months during 1908, he was the personal physician of the American newspaper magnate, Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer
Joseph Pulitzer April 10, 1847 – October 29, 1911), born Politzer József, was a Hungarian-American newspaper publisher of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the New York World. Pulitzer introduced the techniques of "new journalism" to the newspapers he acquired in the 1880s and became a leading...
, aboad Pulitzer's yacht. Later Leipoldt's career was varied: for a period he was a school doctor in London, before becoming the Medical Inspector of Schools in the Transvaal
Transvaal Province
Transvaal Province was a province of the Union of South Africa from 1910 to 1961, and of its successor, the Republic of South Africa, from 1961 until the end of apartheid in 1994 when a new constitution subdivided it.-History:...
and then in the Cape Province. He returned to journalism for a while (1923) but finally settled down as a pediatrician
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
in Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
in 1925. He never married. He died in Cape Town but, because of
his deep love for the Hantam—a beautiful, mountainous and wild district north of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
—his ashes were laid to rest in the rugged Pakhuis Pass
(Storehouse Pass), near Clanwilliam.
His poetry
The Worst Horror- This is the bitterest thing of all my days,
- That which I have loved so well, that now is dead
- And in a coffin laid away, of lead
- And cedarwood, immortal somewhere stays,
- Or as a ghost-cloud goes its lonely ways
- By strange and boundless forces urged ahead,
- Perhaps, like me, forlorn, uncomforted,
- But out of reach, howe'er one pleads or prays,
- Day after day with unending lament.
- This is the bitterest thing, that I no hand
- Can reach to help, or comfort to impart,
- This is the bitterest thing, that I no hand
- No aid can give, and no encouragement;
- And that there wanders in that ghostly land
- Forlorn, that which I loved with all my heart!
- And that there wanders in that ghostly land
(Translated by C. J. D Harvey)
Leipoldt wrote much about nature in general and in particular about the
landscapes and legends of his beloved Hantam. His poetry also deals with the
suffering caused by the Second Boer War and the culture and values of the
Cape Malays
Cape Malays
The Cape Malay community is an ethnic group or community in South Africa. It derives its name from the present-day Western Cape of South Africa and the people originally from Maritime Southeast Asia, mostly Javanese from modern-day Indonesia, a Dutch colony for several centuries, and Dutch...
. Most of his work does not translate well into English.
Legacy
The C. Louis Leipoldt Medical Centre in Cape Town is named after C. Louis Leipoldt.The Louis Leipoldt Primary School in Lyttelton (Centurion) is named after C. Louis Leipoldt.