Etienne van Heerden is the author of novels, short story collections, books of poetry, essays, cabaret collections and a theoretical book on postmodernism. He teaches at the University of Cape Town as Hofmeyr Professor of Afrikaans and Netherlandic Studies.
Etienne van Heerden (1954) grew up in the Eastern Cape Karoo where his Afrikaans speaking father was a merino farmer in the Graaff-Reinet and Cradock districts. His English mother was a mathematics teacher.
Among his work in Dutch translation (published by De Bezige Bij) are the novels De betoverde berg, De stoetmeester, De witte aap, Het zwijgen van Mario Salviati and In plaats van de liefde. His most recent book 30 nachten in Amsterdam was translated by Martine Vosmaer and Karina van Santen en published by Podium; the novel is (in part) a result of a previous stay of Van Heerden as writer in residence in Amsterdam. Here you can find a short fragment of the translation.
Van Heerden also is the Founder editor of the multi cultural South-African internet journal, LitNet.
Etienne van Heerden and Martine Vosmaer will talk about the process of writing and translating 30 nachten in Amsterdam on Thursday February 22, 15.30-17.30, in Utrecht. Please visit the website of Expertisecentrum Literair Vertalen for more information and reservations.
