Home   Alpabetical list of all authors

P. J. Schoeman

1904 - 1988

Piet Schoeman

Author of books on South Africa's indigenous people and wildlife
Professor of Ethnology at Stellenbosch University, 1939 - 1947

"Die baas-skrywer oor die natuur en die jagvelde" (Charles Fensham)
"Schoemannhet het sy jeugervaring as veldkind, en sy latere belewenisse in die bosse van Afrika, tot groot wins van die Afrikaanse prosaverhaal ontgin" (F.V. Lategan in P.J. Nienaber, Perspektief en profiel)

Pieter Johannes (Piet) Schoeman was born on 20 September 1904 in Utrecht and grew up in Natal. He matriculated from Helpmekaar-Hoërskool in Johannesburg and studied at Stellenbosch University (MA, DPhil in Ethnology, 1933, title of thesis: Grepe uit die lewe van die Swazies).
After further studies in London he worked as a journalist.
1939 - 1947: Professor of Bantology at Stellenbosch University
1947: retired, to become full time writer
1951-1956: Head Game Warden in South West Africa. His experiences from studies of wild animals were worked into his novels.
1956: return to Stellenbosch, full time writer.
Many of Piet Schoeman's books were prescribed at school. He was married a second time to Esther Hofmeyr, and the couple had two daughters. P. J. Schoeman died on 5 July 1988 in Stellenbosch.		Piet Schoeman in 1980
Piet Schoeman in 1980

Awards:

First author awarded the Scheepers Prize for youth literature, he received it twice: 1956 for Drie jong jagters, Fanie se veldskooldae, Fanie word grootwildjagter, Fanie se vuurdoop and "Uitspring, kêrels!"
1967 for all youth books since 1957, especially Kampvure wat nie uitbrand nie
Perskor Prize for jouth literature 1982

Hobbies: Game watching. Formerly a huntsman he became known as a game warden. He also enjoyed mountaineering.

List of works

Schoeman also gathered ethnographic stories and sketches in several collections.
Op Die Groot SporeOp Die Groot SporeWaar Ver Winde WaaiWaar Ver Winde WaaiVan jagter tot wildliefhebberVan jagter tot wildliefhebber  

Die swerwerjagter, 1933
Die jagterprins en ander jagverhale, 1935
Drie jong jagters (youth novel), Nasionale Pers, 1935
Sonogies, die die Swazie-prinsessie (youth novel), 1938
Mboza, die Swazie, en ander verhale, 1939
Op die groot spore ( - and Nobiyane, two stories), 1942, published again in 1963
Op die klein spoortjies (youth novel), 1944
Waar motors nie kan kom nie (jouth novel), 1948
Fanie (youth novel series), Voortrekkerpers, 1948 - 61
Fanie Word Grootwildjagter
Op ver paaie, 1949
Rook op die horison, 1949
"Uitspring", kêrels!" (youth novel), Nasionale Boekhandel, 1951
Jagters van die woestynland, 1951
Waar ver winde waai, 1957
"Inspring, kêrels!" (youth novel), 1960
Terug op die ver paaie, 1962
Nobiyane, die Zoeloeminnaar, 1963
Trados, die swerwerboesman, 1963
Vulindaba, 1964
Jetwa, die buffelbul, 1965
Dronkie (youth novel series), 1965 - 66
Katjieland (youth novel), 1965
Dronkie by die kabouters en feetjies, 1965
Dronkie maak kinders groot, 1966
Kampvure wat nie uitbrand nie (youth novel), Voortrekkerpers, 1966
Uit die dagboek van 'n wildbewaarder, 1967
Van jagter tot wildliefhebber, 1969
Jabula, die Zoeloe, 1972
Geliefde ou Afrika-vriende (2 volumes), 1975/76
Pampata die beminde van koning Tsjaka, 1978
Spore wat nie toewaai nie (youth novel), 1979
Jabulies, my eerste hond, 1980

Webmasterwww.StellenboschWriters.com © Rosemarie Breuer

     Publisher of special editions Books


Find Afrikana and other books at bidorbuy.co.za