Photo by Philip de Vos 1973
One of South Africa's most distinguished writers
Among his books are novels, historical works and biographies.
Karel Schoeman was born on 26 October 1939 in Trompsburg in the Freestate.
1956: matriculated from the Hoër Jongenskool in Paarl.
1959: obtained a BA in languages at the University of the Freestate.
He went on to study at the Catholic Seminary in Pretoria.
1961: Joined the order of Franciscans in Ireland and novitiated to become a
priest, but was released from his vows.
He returned to Bloemfontein where he obtained a Hoër Diploma in Biblioteekkunde.
1968 - 1973: librarian at the library in Amsterdam.
1974 - 1976: male nurse in Glasgow.
From 1983 at the South African Library in Cape Town.
Photo found at LitNet.co.za
In September 2008, Schoeman moved to Noorderbloem retirement home in Bloemfontein. He decided to end his own life and died on May 1, 2017.
"Ek wil trouens hoop dat my dood daartoe sal bydra om sowel die wesenlike probleem van ouderdom as die algemene kwessie van selfbeskikking meer algemeen bespreekbaar te maak as wat dit op die oomblik die geval is, en bowenal dat dit sal kan help om 'n wysiging in die huidige Suid-Afrikaanse wetgewing tov selfbeskikking te weeg te bring."
I hope that my death will contribute to making the common problem of age as well as the general issue of self-determination more widely discussed than it is at the moment and, above all, that it may help to change to bring about the current South African legislation for self-determination.
1970: Hertzog Prize for By Fakkellig, 'n Lug vol helder wolke and Spiraal
1972: CNA Prize for Na die geliefde land
1983: Recht Malan Prize for Vrystaatse erfenis
1984: Ou Mutual Prize for 'n Ander land
1985: WA Hofmeyr Prize for 'n Ander land
1986: Hertzog Prize for 'n Ander land
1988: Helgaard Steyn Prize for the best Afrikaans book of the last 4 years - vir 'n Ander land
1991: Ou Mutual Prize for Afskeid en vertrek
1994: CNA Prize for Hierdie lewe
1995 : Hertzog Prize forHierdie lewe
1997: M-Net Award for Verkenning
1997: Prize of the South African Academy for Kultuurgeskiedenis
2002: Recht Malan Prize - best non-fiction/non-literary work for Armosyn van die Kaap
2003 Recht Malan Prize (for non-fiction) for Die Laaste Afrikaanse Boek
2004 D.Litt (honoris causa), University of the Free State
2006 Prix Amphi for La Saison des Adieux (Afskeid en Vertrek)
2006 The South African Literature Award for his complete oeuvre
2009 Prix du Meilleur Livre étranger for Cette Vie (Hierdie Lewe)
 Novels:1965: Veldslag 1967: 'n Lug vol helder wolke 1968: Spiraal 1971: Op 'n eiland 1972: Na die geliefde land 1979: Die hemeltuin 1984: 'n Ander land 1990: Afskeid en vertrek 1993: Hierdie lewe/ This Life 1995: Die uur van die engel 1996: Verkenning 1998: Verliefsfontein 1995: Die wêreld van Susanna Smit, 1799 - 1863 Bloemfontein: die ontstaan van 'n stad, 1846-1946 (1980) Vrystaatse erfenis (1982) Bloemfontein in beeld, 1860-1910 (1987) Die Vrijstatia-reeks: Sophie Leviseur: Memories Frantz Balfet: Samuel Rolland (1801-1873) J.G. Fraser - James Briggs: Sotho War Diaries: 1864-1865 Die Huis van die Armes: die Berlynse Sendinggenootskap in die OVS, 1833-1869 Maude Bidwell: Pen Pictures of the Past The Free State Mission: the Anglican Church in the OFS, 1863-1883 Die Herinneringe van JC de Waal The Recollections of Elizabeth Rolland (1803-1901) The Bloemfontein Diary of Lieut. W.J. St John, 1852-1853 The Early Days of the Orange Free State The Wesleyan Mission in the Orange Free State, 1833-1854 The Missionary Letters of Gottlob Schreiner, 1873-1846 The British Presence in the Transorange, 1845-1854a 2001: Armosyn van die Kaap: Die Wêreld van 'n Slavin, 1652-1733 Early white travellers in the Transgariep, 1819 -1840 Vrijstatia 14: Early White Travellers in the Transgariep, 1819-1840, Protea Boekhuis, 2001 2002: Die laaste Afrikaanse boek The Griqua Captaincy of Philippolis, 1826-1861 2003: Die suidhoek van Afrika, Protea Boekhuis | 2005: The Griqua mission at Philippolis, 1822-1837 Kinders Van Die Kompanjie: Kaapse lewens uit die sewentiende eeu The early mission in South Africa/Die vroee sending in Suid-Afrika 2007: Early slavery at the Cape of Good Hope, 1652-1717 2008: Patrisiërs & prinse - Die Europese samelewing en die stigting van 'n kolonie aan die Kaap, 1619-1715, Protea Boekhuis 2010: Kolonie aan die Kaap: Jan van Riebeeck en die vestiging van die eerste blankes, 1652-1662 (Boek 3), Protea Boekhuis 2011: Riviereland, Protea Book House 2012: Here En Boere, Protea Book House Cape Lives of the Eighteenth Century, Protea Book House Early White Travellers in the Transgariep, 1819-1840, Protea Book House 2013: Portrait of a Slave Society, Protea Book House 2014: Hoogty - Die opbloei van 'n koloniale kultuur aan die Kaap, 1751 - 1779, Protea Boekhuis 2015: Swanesang: Die einde van die Kompanjiestyd aan die Kaap, 1771 - 1795 2016: Imperiale somer, Suid Afrika tussen Oorlog en Unie, 1902 - 1910
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