Matthys Gerhardus Smith

Matthys Gerhardus Smith was a South African Fictional writer, mostly known for youth literature. He has written mainly under the nom de plume “Topsy Smith” and “Bettie Naude”

Topsy Smith
Personal details
Born
Matthys Gerhardus Smith

(1914-07-12)July 12, 1914
Parys, Free State, South Africa
DiedMarch 5, 1985(1985-03-05) (aged 70)
NationalitySouth African
Spouse(s)Josie Stuart-Bertram
Children2
Alma materStellenbosch University, University of Pretoria
Known forYouth fiction writer
Nom de plume is Bettie Naude

Roots and private life

He was born in Parys, Free State, South Africa on 12 July 1914.[1] He was the son of Matthys Gerhardus Smith and Elizabeth Catharina Naude. He married Josie Stuart-Bertram. They had 2 children. He died on 5 March 1985.[2]

Education and work

Smith obtained a BA degree at University of Stellenbosch and later a Higher Diploma in Education at the University of Pretoria. He was a teacher and retired as principal of Sandringham Primary in Johannesburg.[3]

Writer

[4]

  • Smith is best known for writing youth series. Trompie and Saartjie books are his bestsellers. The first series is called Trompie and the second the Saartjie. In the Trompie series (Trompie is the name of a schoolboy) 33 books were published. This was done between 1950-1970.[5][6] A movie was made from the Trompie books.(1975) André Laubscher played the main character in the film. Anton Goosen sang the theme song. The Saartjie series (Saartjie is the name of a schoolgirl) 24 books were published. He wrote this under his mother’s name Bettie Naude. This was written between 1953-1958.[7][8] A television series was made from these books in 1989, with Annie Malan playing Saartjie.
  • Apart from the above series he also wrote the following series in Afrikaans:

-Bosapies van Bergville (translated: Apes from the bush from Bergville) – Twelve books (1958-1959)[9]

-Hendrik Hoffman– Six books (1959-1960)[10]

-Louws van Linton (translated Louws from Linton) –Eight books (1960-1964)[11]

-Gampietjie –Five books (1963-1964)[12]

-Jantjie – Six books (1963-1967)[13]

  • He also wrote in English , two series of books

-Nicky – four books (1958)[14]

-Leon –four books (1963-1969)[15]

  • Adult fiction – This he wrote under the name M.G. Smith in Afrikaans

-Juffrou Jackie se man (1970) (translated: Miss Jackkie’s husband) [16]

-Die ontluiking van tant Matilda (1971) (translated: Aunt Matilda’s change) [17]

-Blonde godin (1980) (translated: Blonde goddess)[18]

  • Non-fiction

-Ons Springbok-rugbyspelers en Tokkelossie (1946) (translated: Our Springbok rugby players and the spirit of our forefathers)[19]

-Atlete van Springbokland (1950)(translated: Athletes from South Africa [20]

gollark: Qh4os glove reveal?!
gollark: I'm not hugely surprised that nobody noticed the switch.
gollark: Yep.
gollark: LyricLy, Macron ISN'T REAL.
gollark: What was I *thinking* when I wrote *any* of this ææææ.

References
  1. "Topsy Smith". Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  2. "TROMPIE en die Boksombende". SA Promo Magazine.
  3. "(Afrikaans )Trompie en Saartjie (translated Trompie and Saartjie)". Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  4. "Topsy Smith".
  5. "Author focus". Human and Rossseau. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  6. "Trompie". World Cat identities. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  7. "Bettie Naude". NB Publishers. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  8. "Naude Bettie". OCLC. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  9. "Bosapies van Bergville". Afrikaanse persboekhandel. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  10. "Hendrik Hofmann". Afrikaanse pers. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  11. "Die Louws van Linton". Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  12. "Gampietjie". Afrikaanse pers boekhandel. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  13. "Jantjie". Nasionale Boekhandel. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  14. "Nicky". Afrikaanse pers boekhandel. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  15. "Leon". Nasionale boekhandel. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  16. "Juffrou Jackie se man". Dagbreek-boekkring. 1970.
  17. "Die ontluiking van tant Matilda". Dagbreek-boekkring. 1971.
  18. "Blonde Godin". Daan Retief. 1980. ISBN 9780868141183.
  19. "Ons Springbok-rugbyspelers en Tokkelossie". Brailledienste. 1946.
  20. "Atlete van Springbokland". Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel.
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