The dao of Daniel by Lodewyk G du Plessis, translated by Michiel Heyns, was launched on Thursday, 8 December at Exclusive Books at the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town. The author was in conversation with Tan Twan Eng.
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Tan Twan Eng and Lodewyk G du Plessis (photo provided by NB Publishers)
About the book:
Title: The dao of Daniel
Author: Lodewyk G du Plessis
Translator: Michiel Heyns
ISBN: 9780624092537
Publisher: Tafelberg
Photo of Lodewyk G du Plessis provided by NB Publishers
Daan van der Walt, a Latin-quoting, God-fearing former Kalahari farmer, visits his estranged son in China. He soon finds himself on a difficult path (the dao of the title) to come to terms with his feelings of remorse and guilt. He sets out to write his Historia, or confessions, in the form of letters to his deceased wife, and imaginary observations to his beloved dog.
An astounding debut by an octogenarian author; the award-winning Afrikaans novel was translated by Michiel Heyns. Michiel Heyns is a prize-winning author and translator. His novels include The children’s day, The reluctant passenger, I am Pandarus, and A poor season for whales. He has also translated works by the Who’s Who of South African authors, among them Marlene van Niekerk, Etienne van Heerden, Chris Barnard, Ingrid Winterbach and Elsa Joubert.
Also read:
Die dao van Daan van der Walt – en die dao van Lodewyk G du Plessis
Die dao van Daan van der Walt deur Lodewyk G du Plessis: ’n resensie
UJ-pryse 2019: Commendatio vir Die dao van Daan van der Walt