N. P. van Wyk Louw

The South African composer Cromwell Everson composed a song cycle, "Vier Liefdesliedjies" ("Four little love songs") that used three of Louw's poems: "Nagliedje", "Net altyd jy" and "Dennebosse" (respectively, "Little night song", "Only always you" and "Pine forest"). A collection of the correspondence between N.P. van Wyk and his brother W.E.G. Louw was published by Hemel & See Boeke in 2011 under the title "Briewe van W.E.G. en N.P. van Wyk Louw 1941-1970".

• Name — Nicolaas Petrus van Wyk Louw • Born — 11 June 1906 • Birthplace — Sutherland, Cape Colony • Died — 18 June 1970 • Place of death — Johannesburg, Transvaal, Republic of South Africa • Occupation — Afrikaans poet, playwright, and scholar • Education — Master's Degree in German at the University of Cape Town, Honorary Degree from the University of Utrecht. • Notable Works — Alleenspraak Die halwe kring Raka Germanicus • Relatives — W.E.G. Louw

The second of four brothers, N.P. van Wyk Louw moved to Cape Town at the age of 14. He earned a master's degree in German at the University of Cape Town, where he later taught. He received an honorary degree from the University of Utrecht in 1948 and was a professor of Afrikaans at the University of Amsterdam from 1949 to 1958. He finished his academic career at the University of Witwatersrand as head of the Dutch/Afrikaans department.