Olive Emilie Albertina Schreiner (1855-1920) was named after her three older brothers, Oliver (1848-1854), Albert (1843-1843) and Emile (1852-1852), who died before she was born. She was the ninth of twelve children born to a missionary couple, Gottlob Schreiner and Rebecca Lyndall, at the Wesleyan Missionary Society station at Wittebergen in the Eastern Cape, near Herschel inSouth Africa. Her childhood was a harsh one as her father was loving and gentle, though impractical; but her mother Rebecca was intent on teaching her children the same restraint and self-discipline that had been a part of her upbringing. Olive received virtually all her initial education from her mother, who was well-read and gifted. Her eldest brother Fred (1840-1901) was educated in England and became headmaster of a school in Eastbourne.-Wikipedia