Fonds SC128 - Derk Wynand fonds

Derk Wynand is a poet, fiction writer, and translator. He was born on June 12, 1944 in Bad Suderode, Germany, moving to Canada in 1952. He attended UBC, where he received his B.A. in English and Philosophy in 1966, and M.A. in Creative Writing in 1969. In his graduating year, Wynand joined the University of Victoria English Department as a Visiting Lecturer. He later became involved with the newly established Creative Writing Department in 1973 (now the Dept. of Writing). He became a full Professor in 1990, and chaired the Department from 1987-1990, and 1996-1999. Wynand became Professor Emeritus when he retired from teaching in 2004.

Wynand’s prose and poetry been featured in numerous periodicals, such as The Fiddlehead, Quarry, Prism International, and The Malahat Review. He has also published a several books and chapbooks.

Wynand's translation work has predominantly focused on translating contemporary German poetry and fiction, as well as some French. He has translated works by writers such as Jean Chatard, Friederike Mayröcker, Ernst Jandl, Dieter Wellershoff, Erich Wolfgang Skwara. Of particular interest to Wynand, has been the work of Austrian poet and writer, H.C. Artmann. Wynand’s translations have appeared in periodicals and anthologies, such as “Black Letters Unleashed: 300 years of Enthused Writing in German” (London : Atlas, 1989). Several of his translated radio plays were broadcast on CBC Radio.

Wynand was also involved with The Malahat Review. He was assistant editor from 1973-1975, guest editor for a special Austrian edition in 1976, and editor of the journal from 1992-1998.