NP van Wyk Louw: natuur, landskap, omgewing

Abstract

The Afrikaans poet, playwright and intellectual N.P. van Wyk Louw (1906-1970) wrote extensively about nature and landscape in his creative work as well as his contemplative essays. These topics occur in different forms in both genres. Louw had very specific perspectives on nature and landscape, which received noteworthy attention in his poems and plays. These perspectives changed in the later part of his life. This is evident in his poems and his occasional drama Berei in die woestyn: ’n Sinne- en wa-spel [Prepared in the desert: A senses and wagon play], which he wrote for the Year of the Soil in 1968. In this play the author fell into step with the growing international awareness about environmental issues. However, critics have not properly investigated his changed perspective.