Mavis de Villiers

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Mavis de Villiers

Author and translator of children's books

Mavis de Villiers was born 2 November 1919, and grew up in Cape Town.
She married her high school sweetheart, David Pieter de Villiers in 1945. (He was later Chairman of the Stellenbosch University Council). They live in Stellenbosch.

Award: Academy Award for the translation of Roald Dahl's Big Friendly Giant (Die Groot Sagmoedige Reus), 1996

Publications:
Poekie se boekie, 1950
Tuisbly se karretjie, 1960
She wrote several children's stories for the radio and was co-author of the children's story book: Stories van oral oor, 1990
Some of her translations:
Marie Skipper om Kaap Hoorn, 1963
Professor Piet ontmoet die diere, 1980
Die Toorvingertjie by Roald Dahl, cc 1984
Hendrik en reuse perske by Ruald Dahl, 1984
Frikkie Veldmuis (from Afrikaans into English), 1990
Die GSR by Roald Dahl, 1993

Information and photo by Biebie van der Merwe

Books