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Marita van der Vyver

マリータ・ファン・デル・ヴィーヴァー

Marita van der Vyver

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1958-05-06 （Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa）
Nationality
South African
Languages
Afrikaans, English, French
Residence History
Cape Town (birth) → Bellville (Western Cape) → Menlo Park (Pretoria) → Stellenbosch (university studies) → France (resident since 1999)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Writer, Journalist
Active Years
1978-
Influenced By
D. J. Opperman

Education

Stellenbosch University
Afrikaans and French
Degree: BA
Period: 1975–1978
Year of Graduation: 1978
Country: South Africa
Stellenbosch University
Journalism
Degree: Honours (Journalism)
Period: 1979
Year of Graduation: 1979
Country: South Africa
Stellenbosch University
Journalism
Degree: Master's (Journalism)
Country: South Africa
Year of master's degree completion not specified in available sources

Awards

ATKV Prize
1992
Work: Griet Writes a Fairy Tale
Organization: ATKV (Afrikaans Language and Culture Association)
Result: 受賞
M-Net Prize
1992
Work: Griet Writes a Fairy Tale
Organization: M-Net
Result: 受賞
Eugène Marais Prize
1992
Work: Griet Writes a Fairy Tale
Organization: Eugène Marais Prize
Result: 受賞
Sanlam Prize for Youth Fiction
2002
Work: The Incredible Adventures of Hanna Hoekom
Organization: Sanlam
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Van Jou Jas

1982 Youth novel

An early youth novel focusing on coming-of-age themes and friendship.

coming-of-agefriendshipfamily

Tien vir 'n Vriend

1987 Youth novel

Youth fiction dealing with friendship and issues faced by young people.

friendshipadolescenceself-discovery

Eenkantkind

1991 Youth novel

A youth novel portraying relationships through the perspective of childhood.

childhoodfamilyisolation

Griet Writes a Fairy Tale

1992 Adult novel

A novel centered on the female protagonist Griet, weaving domestic and personal narratives. After publication it won multiple prizes and was translated into several languages.

female perspectivefamilyintersection of story and reality
Adaptations
  • [Stage/Film adaptations (various)] Griet skryf 'n Sprokie (stage/screen adaptations)
Translations
  • English translation: Griet Writes a Fairy Tale
  • Dutch translation available
  • Italian translation available
  • French translation available
  • Spanish translation available
  • Swedish translation available
  • Czech translation available
  • Chinese translation available
  • Hebrew translation available

Wegkomkans

1999 Adult novel

A 1999 novel exploring choices and escape in personal life.

choicesescapefamily

Griet Comes Back

2001 Adult novel

A work that continues elements of 'Griet skryf 'n Sprokie', depicting the protagonist's later life.

sequelcontinued growthfamily relationships

The Incredible Adventures of Hanna Hoekom

2001 Youth novel / Children's fiction

A youth adventure novel that won the Sanlam Prize for Youth Fiction in 2002 and was adapted into a film in 2010.

adventuregrowthhumor
Adaptations
  • [Film] Die Ongelooflike Avonture van Hanna Hoekom (film) (2010)

Die hart van ons huis

2004 Essay collection

A collection of humorous essays about life in the French countryside.

rural lifeexpatriate lifehumor

Bestemmings

2005 Short story collection

A collection of short stories published together with an English counterpart.

short storieseveryday lifehuman relationships

Bibliography

  • Van Jou Jas (1982)
  • Tien vir 'n Vriend (1987)
  • Eenkantkind (1991)
  • Griet skryf 'n Sprokie (1992)
  • Dinge van 'n Kind (1994)
  • Olinosters op die Dak (1997)
  • Wegkomkans (1999)
  • Griet Kom Weer (2001)
  • Die Ongelooflike Avonture van Hanna Hoekom (2001)
  • Die hart van ons huis (2004)
  • Bestemmings (short stories)
  • Vergenoeg
  • Dis Koue Kos
  • Skat
  • Stiltetyd

Adaptations

  • Die Ongelooflike Avonture van Hanna Hoekom — film (2010)
  • Griet skryf 'n Sprokie — stage/screen adaptations
  • Dinge van 'n Kind — stage/screen adaptations
  • Various other works adapted for stage or screen

Translations of Works

  • Griet skryf 'n Sprokie has been translated into English, Dutch, Italian, French, Spanish, Swedish, Czech, Chinese and Hebrew.

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Humorous realismCharacter-driven narrative style
Recurring Motifs
family and homefemale perspectivechildhood and coming-of-agerural/expatriate life

Legacy

An important female author in Afrikaans literature, with significant works for both adults and youth. 'Griet skryf 'n Sprokie' won multiple awards and was translated into many languages. Several works have been adapted for stage or film, influencing South African popular culture.

Archives

  • Official website archive (maritavandervyver.info)

In Popular Culture

  • Film adaptation of 'Die Ongelooflike Avonture van Hanna Hoekom' (2010) and other screen/stage adaptations of youth-oriented works.

Trivia

  • Has lived in France since 1999 with her husband and four children.
  • Studied Afrikaans and French at Stellenbosch University and holds an advanced degree in journalism (year unspecified).
  • 'Griet skryf 'n Sprokie' won several prizes and was translated into many languages.
  • Participated in D. J. Opperman's poetry workshops during university.