Daniel Francois Malherbe, SA novelist, poet and dramatist, is born

Date: 28 May 1881
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Daniel Francois Malherbe, SA novelist, poet and dramatist, is born

On 28 May 1881, Daniel Francois Malherbe was born in Dal Josafat, Paarl, in the Western Cape (then Cape Colony). Malherbe was a novelist, poet and dramatist who helped to establish Afrikaans as a cultural language in South Africa. Malherbe published several volumes of poetry and drama, but he is best known for his novels. These include Vergeet Nil (1913; "Don't Forget"), Die Meulenaar (1936; "The Miller"), Saul (1933-37) a biblical trilogy and En die Wawiele Rol (1945; "And the Wagon Wheels Roll On") a story describing the Great Trek. Malherbe was also a professor of literature at the University of Bloemfontein from 1922- 42. He died on 12 April 1969 in Bloemfontein.

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01Wallis, F. (2000).Nuusdagboek: feite en fratse oor 1000 jaar. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau
02Britannica,"Daniel Francois Malherbe",From: Britannica,[online], Available at: britannica.com [Accessed 18 May 2009]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Daniel Francois Malherbe, SA novelist, poet and dramatist, is born. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011087

South African History Online (2011) 'Daniel Francois Malherbe, SA novelist, poet and dramatist, is born', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011087 (Accessed: 26 July 2026).

South African History Online, Daniel Francois Malherbe, SA novelist, poet and dramatist, is born [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011087, (accessed 26 July 2026).

"Daniel Francois Malherbe, SA novelist, poet and dramatist, is born." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011087. Accessed 26 July 2026.

South African History Online. "Daniel Francois Malherbe, SA novelist, poet and dramatist, is born." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011087.