Willem van Toorn, Prominent Dutch Writer, Passes Away at 88
Renowned writer, poet, and translator Willem van Toorn has passed away at the age of 88 in France. His recent work, “Kafka for Beginners,” had just been released. Van Toorn’s body of work is incredibly diverse, encompassing novels, poetry collections, translations, youth books, and a biography of publisher Emanuel Querido. He was awarded the Silver Pencil for his work “Rooie” and received the Jan Campert Prize in 1982 for “Het landleven.”
In a 1983 interview with Willem M. Roggeman, Van Toorn positioned himself as part of an intermediate generation, overshadowed by the “Big Three” Dutch writers, which may have hindered his breakthrough with the general public. Additionally, he expressed a distaste for publicity that did not directly relate to his work:
“Perhaps that is also typical of that group, if you can even call it a group, that the aversion to public appearances, unrelated to your work, is more pronounced. I am willing to read aloud, I am willing to talk about my work, but strictly linked to that work and not as a sort of show, as if a writer were a very special figure, which was very prevalent in that previous generation.”
Van Toorn was known for his translations of works by authors such as Franz Kafka, Klaus Mann, Christopher Isherwood, John Updike, and E.L. Doctorow. Reviews of his works like “Omtrent Kapelaan,” “Een dichteres van Malta,” “Een leeg landschap,” “De jongenskamer,” “De geur van gedroogde appels,” and “Morgenrood” can be found on Tzum.
The literary world mourns the loss of Willem van Toorn, a prolific and versatile writer whose contributions will continue to resonate with readers for years to come.
**Keywords: Willem van Toorn, Dutch writer, poet, translator, Kafka for Beginners**
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Rest in peace, Willem van Toorn. Your literary legacy lives on.
