Marguerite Poland

Marguerite Poland
Born	3 April 1950 Gauteng, South Africa
Occupation	Novelist
Spouse	Martin Oosthuizen
Children	Sue Oosthuizen and Verlie Oosthuizen

Marguerite Poland (born 3 April 1950, Gauteng, South Africa) is a South African novelist.

When she was two years old, the Poland family relocated to the Eastern Cape where she spent most of her formative years. After completing her secondary education at St Dominic’s Priory School in Port Elizabeth, Poland completed her Bachelor of Arts degree at Rhodes University, majoring in Social Anthropology and Xhosa. In 1971, Marguerite Poland completed her honours degree in African languages at Stellenbosch University. In 1977 she obtained her doctorate degree in Zulu folklore - her field of speciality being cattle - from the University of Natal. She also has an Honours degree in Comparative African Languages and an MA in Zulu Literature.

Poland also worked as a social worker in Port Elizabeth and in Durban. In 1997. Poland contributed to a weekly column in the local newspaper, The Mercury. Poland also worked as an ethnologist at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town.

Works

Novels

• Train to Doringbult, 1987
• The Bodley Head (shortlisted for the CNA Award)
• Shades, 1993 (shortlisted for the M-Net Award)
• Iron Love, 1999
• The Abundant Herds, 2003
• Recessional for Grace, 2003

Children's books

• The Mantis and the Moon,1979 (Percy FitzPatrick Award 1979)
• Nqalu, the Mouse with no Whiskers, 1979
• Die Muis Sonder Snorbaard, 1979
• Once at Kwafubesi, 1981
• Die Bidsprikaan en die Maan, 1981
• The Bush Shrike
• The Woodash Stars, 1983 (Percy FitzPatrick Award 1983)
• As die Boerboonblomme Val, 1983
• Die Vuurkoolsterre, 1983
• Shadow of the Wild Hare
• Once at KwaFubesi, 1982
• The Shadow of the Wild Hare, 1984
• Marcus and the Go-Kart
• Marcus and the Boxing Gloves, 1984

External links

Literature portal

• Marguerite Poland
• a short biography and bibliography
• inventory of papers, 1976 - 1997

Persondata
Name	Poland, Marguerite
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	3 April 1950
Place of birth	Gauteng, South Africa
Date of death
Place of death