Guest Lectures: Prof. Willie Burger

In November 2012 the Department of Dutch and South African studies hosted prof. Willie Burger from the University of Pretoria (UP) for two guest lectures.

Prof. Burger is well-known in literary circles in South Africa and can be regarded as an expert on the Afrikaans and South African novel. At the moment he dedicates most of his time to the work of one of the most prolific novelists in Afrikaans, André. P. Brink. Brinks’ novels have been translated into more than 20 languages and he has been nominated twice for the Booker price. Brink is both renowned for his translation and academic work.

Prof. Burger's presentations on Brink's oeuvre and historical writing in South Africa were both insightful and entertaining, and presented students and staff with in-depth and relevant views on modern South African literature. Prose writing by Karel Schoeman, Dan Sleigh and Jacob Dlamini also featured prominently in his exploration of novelistic approaches to a contested history.