Wit Oemfaan

by F.A. Venter

About the author

François Alwyn Venter was born in Hopetown on 27 November 1916. He attended school at Vioolskraal, Strydenburg and Hopetown, and matriculated in 1934. He studied at Stellenbosch University and commenced a career as journalist in 1938, working in Cape Town, Pretoria, Windhoek and Johannesburg. In 1960 he began farming in the Kenhardt district, and ten years later started farming near Vredendal in the Olifants River Valley. In 1976 he retired to Strand, where he began to write full-time.

F.A. Venter was known for his historical novels, short stories and books for young adults. He received the Hertzog Prize for prose in 1961 for his novels Swart pelgrim and Geknelde land. Geknelde land formed part of his Great Trek tetralogy which appeared in the 1960s and also included Offerland, Gelofteland and Bedoelde land. His last book, Van Botterkraal na Altena, appeared in 1996 in celebration of his 80th birthday. It contained a selection from his four autobiographical works, one of which, Die keer toe ek my naam vergeet het, won him the Andrew Murray Prize in 1996. This book is about his recovery after suffering a stroke in 1990. F.A. Venter died on 8 July 1997 at the age of 80.

Reviews

[Wim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die storie gaan oor Ferdinand Paulus van Gass, toevallig my Oupagrootjie x 2 aan moederskant. Daar is nog 'n boek oor die lewe van Paulus van Gass geskryf, nogal deur 'n vorige Staatspresdient: C.R. Swart. Die boek se titel: Die Agterryer.
Ferdinand het verlore geraak tydens die groot Trek toe'n patrollie vertrek het terwyl hy 'n heuningvoeltjie gevolg het. Hy het vir ongeveer 6 maande alleen oorleef en onder andere vir 'n gedeelte van die 6 maande saam met 'n groep Zoeloe-vlugtelinge (wat van Dingaan gevlug het) rondgeswerf. Beide boeke beskryf sy avonture.
Ferdinand Paulus van Gass is rondom 1822 gebore en was 'n tiener tydens die Groot trek. Hy het onder andere 'n rol gespeel om ander trekkers te waarsku na die moord op Piet Retief - hy het eers daarna verlore geraak.
Hy is uiteindelik verenig met sy groep trekkers en het ook uiteindelik weer sy eie familie (in die Kaap) gevind. Op ouderdom 30 trou hy met Anna Dreyer en hy is oorlede in 1883 op ouder5dom 61, op Queenstown.

[De Wet · Rating 3 out of 5]

'n Gawe jeugverhaal.

[Christopher-James Neethling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dit is ‘n uitstekende storie vol emosie. Ek sal nog moet lê en na-dink oor wat ek gelees het! Puik!

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baie jare terug gelees. Sal hom graag weer wil lees.