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Karel Schoeman

かれる・すほーまん

Karel Schoeman

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1939-10-26 (Trompsburg, South Africa)
Died
2017-05-01 (Bloemfontein, South Africa) age 77
Nationality
South Africa
Languages
Afrikaans, English, Dutch
Residence History
Trompsburg → Paarl → Bloemfontein → Ireland → Amsterdam → Glasgow → Cape Town → Trompsburg → Bloemfontein

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Historian, Translator, Librarian, Archivist
Active Years
1965-2017
Affiliations
South African National Library
Memberships
South African Academy for Science and Arts
Nominations
Alan Paton Award shortlist (2014, Portrait of a Slave Society), kykNET-Rapport Book Prize shortlist (2014)

Education

University of the Free State
Languages
Degree: BA
Period: 1950年代後半
Year of Graduation: 1959
Country: South Africa
BA degree in languages
University of the Free State
Library Studies
Degree: Higher Diploma
Period: 1960年代初頭
Year of Graduation: 1960
Country: South Africa
Higher Diploma in Library Studies
Paarl Boys' High School
Year of Graduation: 1956
Country: South Africa
Matriculated in 1956

Awards

Hertzog Prize
1971
Work: By Fakkellig, ’n Lug vol Helder Wolke, Spiraal
Category: 散文
Organization: South African Academy for Science and Arts
Result: 受賞
Hertzog Prize
1986
Work: ’n Ander Land
Category: 散文
Organization: South African Academy for Science and Arts
Result: 受賞
Hertzog Prize
1995
Work: Hierdie Lewe
Category: 散文
Organization: South African Academy for Science and Arts
Result: 受賞
Recht Malan Prize
1983
Work: Vrystaatse Erfenis
Category: ノンフィクション
Organization: Media24
Result: 受賞
Recht Malan Prize
1998
Work: Dogter van Sion
Category: ノンフィクション
Organization: Media24
Result: 受賞
Recht Malan Prize
2002
Work: Armosyn van die Kaap
Category: ノンフィクション
Organization: Media24
Result: 受賞
Recht Malan Prize
2003
Work: Die Laaste Afrikaanse Boek
Category: ノンフィクション
Organization: Media24
Result: 受賞
Prix du Meilleur Livre Étranger
2009
Work: Cette Vie (Hierdie Lewe)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

’n Ander Land

1984 Novel

Introspective novel set in South Africa.

IdentityHistoryAlienation
Translations
  • French: En Étrange Pays
  • English: Another Country

This Life

1993 Novel

Exploration of life.

LifeDeathSouth African society
Translations
  • English: This Life
  • French: Cette Vie

Promised Land

1972 Novel

Journey to the beloved land.

MigrationQuestLand
Adaptations
  • [Film] Promised Land / Jason Xenopoulos (2002)
Translations
  • English: Promised Land
  • French: Retour au Pays Bien-Aimé

Bibliography

  • Veldslag (1965)
  • By Fakkellig (1966)

Adaptations

  • Na die Geliefde Land adapted to Promised Land film (2002)

Translations by Author

  • Translations of Chekhov, Schiller, etc. into Afrikaans

Translations of Works

  • English, French, Dutch translations of various novels

Style & Themes

Literary Style
IntrospectivePoeticRich in historical detail
Recurring Motifs
South African historyIdentity crisisSolitudeDeath

Health

  • Depression/Suicidal tendencies
    晩年 (75歳と77歳に試み)
    Suicide in 2017 at age 77, previous attempt at 75; wrote about dying with dignity in Slot van die Dag

Legacy

One of South Africa's most acclaimed Afrikaans writers, winner of Hertzog Prize thrice and Recht Malan Prize four times. Rumored Nobel contender.

Academic Societies

  • South African Academy for Science and Arts

In Popular Culture

  • Mentioned as Nobel contender in media

Trivia

  • Novice in Franciscan Order but returned
  • Wrote about dignified death before suicide
  • Giant of Afrikaans literature