Willem Frederik Hermans facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willem Frederik Hermans
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W. F. Hermans in 1986
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| Born | 1 September 1921 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 27 April 1995 (aged 73) Utrecht, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Physical geographer, writer |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Period | 1940–1995 |
| Genre | Poetry, novels, short stories, plays, essays |
| Spouse | Emmy Meurs (1950–95) |
Willem Frederik Hermans (1 September 1921 – 27 April 1995) was a famous Dutch writer. He wrote many different kinds of books, including poems, novels, short stories, plays, and essays. Some of his most well-known works are The House of Refuge (a short novel, 1952), The Darkroom of Damocles (a novel, 1958), and Beyond Sleep (a novel, 1966).
After World War II, Hermans wanted to be a full-time writer. But it was hard to make a living from writing in the Netherlands as the country was still recovering. He published several collections of short stories. In 1958, he became a teacher of physical geography at Groningen University. He kept this job until he moved to Paris, France, in 1973. The same year, 1958, his novel The Darkroom of Damocles became very popular. Hermans was later recognized as one of "De Grote Drie" (The Big Three). These were the three most important authors in the Netherlands after the war, along with Harry Mulisch and Gerard Reve. He also received the Prijs der Nederlandse Letteren in 1977, which is the most important literary award for Dutch writers.
Contents
About Willem Frederik Hermans
Early Life and Education
Willem Frederik Hermans was born in Amsterdam on 1 September 1921. His parents were Johannes and Hendrika Hermans. He had an older sister named Corry. His father was a grammar-school teacher. His parents wanted both their children to go to college. They sent Willem to the well-known Barlaeus Gymnasium. This was a special school that prepared students for university.
Willem showed he was smart from a young age. In grammar school, he was chosen for a harder math class. He also enjoyed reading a lot. Some of his favorite books were children's versions of classic stories like the legend of King Arthur, Gulliver's Travels, and Robinson Crusoe. He also liked Alice in Wonderland.
Even though his family was not religious, Hermans found a children's Bible with beautiful pictures. He was especially interested in the exciting stories from the Old Testament. He also loved learning about science, technology, and inventors. He enjoyed biographies of people like Thomas Edison and books about chemistry.
In 1933, Hermans started at the Barlaeus Gymnasium. At first, his grades were not great. He even had to repeat a year. But after that, he worked harder. During this time, he became very interested in literature. He had a small part in a school play, Antigone, which made a big impression on him. He felt it could "swipe away the everyday world." He also gave reports on famous writers like Franz Kafka and Thomas Mann.
Life as a Writer and Geographer
In 1950, Hermans married Emmy Meurs, a woman from Surinam.
In 1958, he became a university teacher of physical geography at Groningen University. This was a job he held for many years. In 1972, there were some questions about whether he was spending enough time teaching or too much time writing. A special committee looked into it. They found that his main "mistake" was using university paper for his writing notes.
In 1973, he decided to leave his teaching job and become a full-time writer. He moved to Paris, France. In his 1975 book Onder professoren (Among Professors), he wrote about university life in Groningen in a funny but critical way. He even said he wrote it on the back of university letters to make use of the expensive paper.
Hermans received special honors from universities in Belgium and South Africa for his writing.
Main Ideas in His Books
A big idea in Hermans's books is that the world can be hard to understand. He believed that only science and logic can give us truly reliable knowledge. Other areas, like feelings or human studies, might not be as certain.
His characters often misunderstand the world around them. They are usually alone and struggle to connect with others. They might have their own ideas about things, but they find it hard to convince others. They can also be victims of bad luck. In his stories, things like freedom or doing good deeds might not always lead to a happy ending.
One common idea in his novels is the difference between how characters see themselves and how others see them. For example, in The Darkroom of Damocles, the main character, Osewoudt, tries hard to prove who he is and what he did during the war. But he can't convince others, and he loses his sense of self.
Writing Style
Hermans's writing style is often described as serious and direct. He uses short, clear sentences. His writing was definitely shaped by World War II and the German occupation of the Netherlands (1940-1945). Many of his longer novels, like De tranen der acacia's and De donkere kamer van Damokles, are set during the war. Even his more lighthearted books can have a strange, serious feeling to them.
Books Translated into English
Some of Willem Frederik Hermans's books have been translated into English:
- The House of Refuge (originally Het behouden huis, 1952) was first translated in 1966. A new translation, An Untouched House, came out in 2018.
- Beyond Sleep (originally Nooit meer slapen, 1966) was translated in 2006. This book is about a geology trip in Norway.
- The Darkroom of Damocles (originally De donkere kamer van Damocles, 1958) was translated in 2007. This novel is set during World War II and follows a Dutch resistance fighter.
- A Guardian Angel Recalls (originally Herinneringen van een engelbewaarder) was translated in 2021. This book is a dark comedy set just before the German invasion of the Netherlands in 1940.
See also
- NRC's Best Dutch novels
