Op Dinsdag 20 April 2021 het die Franse ambassadeur in Suid-Afrika, meneer Aurélien Lechevallier, die Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Ridder in die Orde van Kuns en Letterkunde) namens die Franse president aan plaaslike misdaadfiksie- en draaiboekskrywer Deon Meyer by Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch oorhandig.

Oor Deon Meyer:

Deon Meyer is ’n Suid-Afrikaanse misdaadfiksie- en draaiboekskrywer wat al 15 romans en drie kortverhaalbundels gepubliseer het. Sy boeke is in 27 tale vertaal en word in meer as 40 lande uitgegee.

Twee van sy boeke, Dead Before Dying en Trackers, is in internasionale TV-reekse omskep. Deon het al reekse vir televisie en draaiboeke vir films geskryf, en was al die produksieleier en regisseur van films in sy huistaal, Afrikaans.

In sy loopbaan het Deon verskeie internasionale pryse vir sy boeke ontvang, insluitend die Franse Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière (2003) en Le Prix Mystère de la critique (2004).

Deon Meyer is ’n goeie vriend van Frankryk en spandeer graag Europese somers in die pragtige stad van Bordeaux. Sy aanwysing as ’n Ridder in die Orde van Kuns en Letterkunde is uit erkenning vir sy werk as skrywer asook sy verhouding met Frankryk, wat in van sy boeke weerspieël word.

’n Gedeelte van Meyer se The Last Hunt speel af in Bordeaux, Frankryk, waar die Suid-Afrikaanse karakter Thobela Mpayipheli onder die Franse skuilnaam Daniel Darret woon.

Oor die Orde van Kuns en Letterkunde:

Die Orde van Kuns en Letterkunde is ’n Franse orde wat in 1957 gestig is en word deur die Franse minister van Kultuur aangewys ter erkenning van noemenswaardige verryking van kuns en letterkunde in Frankryk en oorsee. Daar is drie range: ridder, offisier en kommandant.

Ander Suid-Afrikaners wat ook hierdie aanwysing ontvang het

, sluit in: Johnny Clegg (1991), William Kentridge (2013), Gregory Maqoma (2017) Zanele Muholi (2017) and Jonathan Shapiro “Zapiro” (2019).

Deon Meyer receives France’s top cultural award

On Tuesday 20 April 2021, Ambassador of France to South Africa, H.E. Mr. Aurélien Lechevallier, bestowed upon South African crime fiction author and screenwriter, Deon Meyer, the award of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters) on behalf of the French President at Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch. 

About Deon Meyer: 

Deon Meyer is a South African crime fiction author and screenwriter, who has published fifteen novels and three short story collections. His books have been translated into 27 languages and published in more than 40 countries world-wide. 

Two of his books, Dead Before Dying and Trackers were turned into international TV series. Deon has also written series for television, screenplays for feature films and has produced and directed movies in his native Afrikaans. 

Throughout his career, Deon received many international awards for his books, including in France with Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière (2003) and Le Prix Mystère de la critique (2004). 

Deon Meyer is a great friend of France and loves spending the European summer in the beautiful city of Bordeaux. His appointment as Knight of Arts and Letters comes in recognition of his work and his special relationship with France, reflected in many of his books. A part of Deon’s latest novel The Last Hunt is set in Bordeaux, France, where the South African character Thobela Mpayipheli lives under the French name Daniel Darret.

About the Order of Arts and Letters: 

The Order of Arts and Letters is a French order established in 1957 and awarded by the French ministry of Culture in recognition of significant contributions to the enrichment of the arts and literature in France and abroad. There are three degrees: knight, officer and commander. Some South African citizens who have been awarded the order are: Johnny Clegg (1991), William Kentridge (2013), Gregory Maqoma (2017) Zanele Muholi (2017) and Jonathan Shapiro “Zapiro” (2019).