Willem Frederik Hermans
Author · 26 books
Willem Frederik Hermans is one of the greatest post-war Dutch authors. Before devoting his entire life to writing, Hermans had been teaching Physical Geography at the University of Groningen for many years. He had already started writing and publishing in magazines at a young age. His polemic and provocative style led to a court case as early as 1952. His caustic pieces were compiled in Mandarijnen op zwavelzuur (Mandarines in Sulphuric Acid, 1963), which was reprinted with additions a number of times. It is Hermans’s belief that in order to survive people have to create their own reality. It is inevitable that all these experiences of reality will collide. Language is essential to create order out of chaos and plays an important role in this process. In his essays on Wittgenstein, Hermans studied this problem in depth. In his novels and stories Hermans places his characters in a world of certainty for themselves but equivocal for the reader. It is in this field of tension that the intrigue in De tranen der acacia’s (Acacia’s Tears, 1949) and in De donkere kamer van Damocles (The Darkroom of Damocles, 1958) develops. Although stories such as Moedwil en misverstand (Malice and Misunderstanding) and Paranoia have a surrealistic tendency, Hermans’ novels The Darkroom Of Damocles, Nooit meer slapen (Beyond Sleep), Uit talloos veel miljoenen (From Countless Millions) are more realistic or satirical and everything in his rich oeuvre is subordinate to the author’s pessimistic philosophy.
Books
Verscheur deze brief! Ik vertel veel te veel
2008
The Dark Room of Damocles
1958
De laatste roker
1991
Paranoia
1953
Ik heb altijd gelijk
1951
Het behouden huis
1951
Houten leeuwen en leeuwen van goud
1979
Moedwil en misverstand
Novellen
1948
De god Denkbaar Denkbaar de god
1956
Geyerstein's dynamiek
1982
Een landingspoging op Newfoundland
1957
De Zegelring
1984
Uit talloos veel miljoenen
1981
Herinneringen van een engelbewaarder
1971
In de mist van het schimmenrijk
Fragmenten uit het oorlogsdagboek van de student Karel R.
1993
Ruisend gruis
1995
Een heilige van de horlogerie
1987
Nooit meer slapen
1966
Slzy akácií
1949
Onder professoren
1975
Het sadistische universum
1964
Homme's hoest
1980
De liefde tussen mens en kat
1985
Filip's sonatine
1980
Een wonderkind of een total loss
1967
Au Pair
1989
