Jacoba van Velde facts for kids
Jacoba van Velde (born May 10, 1903, in The Hague – died September 7, 1985, in Amsterdam) was a Dutch writer, translator, and dramaturge. A dramaturge is someone who helps with plays and theater productions. Her most famous book, De grote zaal (which means The Great Hall), was published in 1953. This book became very popular and was translated into thirteen languages within ten years. Over 75,000 copies were sold during her lifetime. In 2010, it was even chosen for a special campaign called Nederland Leest (Netherlands Reads), where free copies were given to library members across the Netherlands.
Contents
Jacoba van Velde's Early Life
Jacoba was the youngest of four children. She had an older sister and two older brothers. Her father was often away when she was young, and her mother worked as a washerwoman. Jacoba only went to school until she was ten years old. However, she taught herself many different languages.
When she was sixteen, Jacoba began working with a theater company. This company later became known as Bouwmeester Revue. She started as a figurante, which is like an extra, and then joined the dance group.
Her Life as a Performer
In 1924, Jacoba married Harry Polah, who was a violinist. They performed together in Berlin. Later, she formed a dance group with two male dancers, Pola Maslowa and Rabanoff. They traveled to many countries in Europe, performing in cabarets and music halls.
In 1937, she married actor and writer Arnold (Bob) Clerx. Jacoba van Velde lived a large part of her life in Paris. Her brothers, Geer van Velde and Bram van Velde, also lived there. They became famous painters after World War II.
Jacoba van Velde's Writing Career
Right after World War II, Jacoba worked as a literary agent. She used the name Tonny Clerx. In this role, she helped manage the French works of the Irish author Samuel Beckett. In 1947, she left this job to focus on her own writing.
Her Published Books
Jacoba van Velde did not write many books. She mostly worked as a translator and dramaturge. She translated plays from French to Dutch. Some of the famous writers whose plays she translated include Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco, and Jean Genet.
Her first novel, De grote zaal, was very successful. Her second and final novel, Een blad in de wind (meaning A Leaf in the Wind), was published in 1961. This book did not receive as much praise as her first one. Jacoba van Velde started writing a third novel called De verliezers (The Losers), but she never finished it.
