Johann de Lange


Johann de Lange was a South African Afrikaans poet, short story writer and critic.

Life and career

De Lange debuted in 1982 with a collection of poetry titled Akwarelle van die dors for which he was awarded the Ingrid Jonker prize in 1983. This was followed by Waterwoestyn in 1984, Snel grys fantoom in 1986, Wordende naak in 1988 which was awarded the Rapport Prize for Poetry, Nagsweet in 1990, Vleiswond in 1993 and Wat sag is vergaan in 1995.
After a silence of 13 years, he published a new volume of poetry Die algebra van nood in 2009, which was awarded the Hertzog Prize for Poetry in 2011. In 2010, a selection from his poetry was published under the title Judasoog.
In 1996, he published his first collection of short stories titled Vreemder as fiksie, followed by Tweede natuur in 2000 in which he explores the drug subculture.
In 1997, he edited an anthology of short stories titled Soort soek soort, covering 100 years of gay fiction in Afrikaans, and in 1998 an anthology of Afrikaans erotic poetry in collaboration with Antjie Krog titled Die dye trek die dye aan. In 2010, he compiled a selection of poems by Afrikaans poet Lina Spies, titled Die skyn van tuiskoms, and in 2011 a selection from the poetry of Wilhelm Knobel titled As die woorde begin droom.
De Lange was also awarded the Pankrator prize for his poem Skerpskutter in an international poetry competition organised by UNESCO, as well as an Avanti award for his documentary script on the life of Ingrid Jonker Verdrinkte hande. He was one of six poets to win the 2021 South African Literary Award for Poetry, but he declined the award.
He had translated poetry by Wilma Stockenström, Sheila Cussons, Antjie Krog, Lucas Malan & Ernst van Heerden amongst others into English. A great number of these translations has since been published in local and overseas collections and anthologies like The Penguin book of Southern African Verse, Breaking the silence – a century of South African women’s poetry, Soho Square: a collection of new writing from Africa, The heart in exile: South African poetry in English 1990-1995 and The lava of this land: South African Poetry 1960-1996.
De Lange died on 27 March 2025, at the age of 65.

Volumes of poetry

Akwarelle van die dors Waterwoestyn Snel grys fantoom Wordende naak Nagsweet Vleiswond Wat sag is vergaan Die algebra van nood Judasoog: 'n seleksie Weerlig van die ongeloof Vaarwel my effens bevlekte held Stil punt van die aarde 'n Hunkering se grein Die meeste sterre is lankal dood
  • ''Duimnaelsketse''

Short fiction

Vreemder as fiksie
  • ''Tweede natuur''

Anthologies

Soort soek soort Die dye trek die dye aan Die skyn van tuiskoms: 'n keur uit die poësie van Lina Spies As die woorde begin droom: 'n keur uit die poësie van Wilhelm Knobel
  • ''Oopkardoes: boertige ryme van Hennie Aucamp''

Translations

  • ''The wisdom of water''

Autobiographical

  • ''Gulp''