About John van Melle
Lived 1887 – 1953 (aged 66). John van Melle was a South African writer.
Jan van Melle (11 February 1887 – 8 November 1953) was the pen name of a Dutch-born South African writer. His real name was Johannes van Melle.
Van Melle was born in Goes. He arrived in South Africa in 1906, and after a short sojourn in the Netherlands East Indies, settled in South Africa permanently in 1913. He worked as a teacher in many rural schools and soon started to publish in both Dutch and the newly emerging Afrikaans language.
Van Melle's best known work is the novel Bart Nel, a classic of Afrikaans literature. It tells the tale of a farmer whose indomitable spirit allows him to survive the destruction and loss of his farm in wartime and being abandoned by his wife and family.
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Important facts
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Contemporaries
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Frequently asked questions
Who was John van Melle?
South African writer (1887-1953)
When was John van Melle born?
John van Melle was born on 11 February 1887 in Goes.
When did John van Melle die?
John van Melle died on 8 November 1953 in Johannesburg.
What was John van Melle's occupation?
John van Melle was a writer.
What nationality was John van Melle?
John van Melle was South African.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John van Melle. https://biography.guide/john-van-melle/
MLA: "John van Melle." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-van-melle/.
Chicago: "John van Melle." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-van-melle/.
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