Emile Hemmen facts for kids
Emile Hemmen (born December 6, 1923 – died January 8, 2021) was a famous poet and writer from Luxembourg. He lived in a town called Mondorf-les-Bains.
About Emile Hemmen
Emile Hemmen was born in Sandweiler in December 1923. When he was young, during World War II, he bravely refused to join the German army that had taken over his country. Instead, he joined a group called the Resistance, which was working secretly to fight against the occupation. His group was known as the "Lëtzebuerger Patrioteliga".
After the war, from 1945 to 1958, Emile worked as a teacher. He then went to Paris to study more, focusing on how people think and behave (psychology) and how societies work (sociology). From 1968 to 1969, he worked for the Luxembourg Ministry of Education, helping with important tasks.
Emile Hemmen was a very busy writer! He published more than 40 books in French, German, and Luxembourgish. These books included a novel (a long story), short stories, and many collections of poems. His writings were so good that they were translated into several other languages, meaning people all over the world could read them. He also wrote for many collections of different authors' works (called anthologies) and for literary magazines. He even helped start Éditions Estuaires, which became one of the most important cultural magazines in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Emile Hemmen passed away on January 8, 2021, when he was 97 years old.
His Books and Writings
Emile Hemmen wrote many different kinds of books, including poems, short stories, and novels. Some of his early works were:
- Mei Wé (poems), published in 1948
- Lîcht a Schied (short stories), published in 1950
- Die Maschine (a short story), published in 1956
- Die Wahl (a novel), published in 2000
He also created special "bibliophile editions" of his books. These were fancy books made with artists like Roger Bertemes, Henri Kraus, François Schortgen, Emile Kirscht, Raymond Weiland, Nico Thurm, and Marc Frising. These books combined his words with beautiful artwork.
Later works include:
- White jeans, published in 2003
- Histoires de soifs (poems), published in 2004
- L'Arbre chauve, published in 2007
- Nocturnes (poems), published in 2013
His poems and stories also appeared in many different collections (anthologies) and magazines over the years, both in Luxembourg and in other countries like France, Germany, Russia, and the USA.
Music and Film Inspired by His Work
Emile Hemmen's words also inspired music and even a movie!
- In 1950, the pianist and composer Pierre Nimax Sr. created music for some of Emile Hemmen's poems.
- In 2011, a CD called "Die Sprechdose" was released, featuring piano music by Kasia Lewandowska.
- In 2013, another CD called "Nocturnes" featured Emile Hemmen's poems read alongside music by Frédéric Chopin, played by pianist Romain Nosbaum.
- In 2016, more of his poems were set to music by composer Jean Halsdorf.
- Emile Hemmen also appeared in a documentary film called "Heim ins Reich" by director Claude Lahr. In the film, he shared his experiences as a resistance fighter during the German occupation of Luxembourg from 1940 to 1944.
