Hans Warren
Encyclopedia
Johannes Adrianus Menne Warren (Borssele
, 20 October 1921 - Goes
, 19 December 2001) was a Dutch
writer
. Much of his fame in the Netherlands derives from having published a collection of diaries in which he described his life and homosexual
experiences in a country that deeply repressed homosexuality. He is also known for his poetry, his literary criticism, and his translations of poetry from Modern Greek
.
, the only child of an engineer and a school teacher. As a child, he had few friendships among his peers, and when he was a student at the lyceum in Goes developed a great interest in nature. After graduation, he began writing articles for nature magazines, and was especially interested in birds. Jac. P. Thijsse
was his model. For a while, he worked as a volunteer at an institute for dialectology
. Even before the start of World War II
, he began keeping a diary
.
, one of the foremost newspapers in Zeeland. He wrote these columns and reviews until his death.
, where Warren's repressed homosexual
feelings found an outlet in many contacts with North African boys. Although this created tension in his marriage, it also sparked his poetic career: Warren published three collections of poetry during his years in Paris, and the marriage, in the end, lasted until 1978.
published a collection of new poems by Warren, Tussen hybris en vergaan. In 1969 Warren met Gerrit Komrij
and the two poets began a long and mutually inspiring friendship. During the next ten years, Warren published a new book of poetry every year.
In 1978 Warren met Mario Molegraaf, forty years his junior (Warren was 57 at that time). The two began a tumultuous love affair that lasted until Warren's death. Molegraaf was a talented writer himself, and together they published a number of translations: the entire work of Constantine P. Cavafy
, several poems by George Seferis, works by Plato
and Epicurius, and the four gospel
s.
From 1985 until 2002, Meulenhoff published a Warren calendar
with a poem each day. Together with Molegraaf, Warren published several popular poetry anthologies.
Borssele
Borssele is a town in the Dutch province of Zeeland. It is a part of the municipality of Borsele, and lies about 12 km east of Vlissingen. Note that the municipality name is spelled with a single s while the name of the town is spelled with a double s.The town is the site of the Netherlands'...
, 20 October 1921 - Goes
Goes
Goes is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands in Zuid-Beveland, in the province Zeeland. The city of Goes has approximately 27,000 residents.-History of Goes:...
, 19 December 2001) was a Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. Much of his fame in the Netherlands derives from having published a collection of diaries in which he described his life and homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
experiences in a country that deeply repressed homosexuality. He is also known for his poetry, his literary criticism, and his translations of poetry from Modern Greek
Modern Greek
Modern Greek refers to the varieties of the Greek language spoken in the modern era. The beginning of the "modern" period of the language is often symbolically assigned to the fall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, even though that date marks no clear linguistic boundary and many characteristic...
.
Youth
Warren was born in ZeelandZeeland
Zeeland , also called Zealand in English, is the westernmost province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the south-west of the country, consists of a number of islands and a strip bordering Belgium. Its capital is Middelburg. With a population of about 380,000, its area is about...
, the only child of an engineer and a school teacher. As a child, he had few friendships among his peers, and when he was a student at the lyceum in Goes developed a great interest in nature. After graduation, he began writing articles for nature magazines, and was especially interested in birds. Jac. P. Thijsse
Jac. P. Thijsse
Jac. P. Thijsse was a Dutch conservationist and botanist. He is sometimes referred to as J.P. Thijssse. He created the "J.P. Thijssse Park" in Amstelveen. He placed on De Grootste Nederlander.- References :...
was his model. For a while, he worked as a volunteer at an institute for dialectology
Dialectology
Dialectology is the scientific study of linguistic dialect, a sub-field of sociolinguistics. It studies variations in language based primarily on geographic distribution and their associated features...
. Even before the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he began keeping a diary
Diary
A diary is a record with discrete entries arranged by date reporting on what has happened over the course of a day or other period. A personal diary may include a person's experiences, and/or thoughts or feelings, including comment on current events outside the writer's direct experience. Someone...
.
Writing career
After the war, Warren began publishing: in 1946, he published Pastorale, a collection of poetry; in 1947, a study on Jac. P. Thijsse; and in 1949 a book on nocturnal birds. In 1951, he began to write reviews and literary criticism for the Provinciale Zeeuwse CourantProvinciale Zeeuwse Courant
The Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant is a Dutch newspaper for the region of Zeeland. It is owned by Koninklijke Wegener BV. Founded in 1758, it is the third-oldest newspaper in the country.-History:...
, one of the foremost newspapers in Zeeland. He wrote these columns and reviews until his death.
Marriage years
In 1952 he married an English woman, and they had three children. Soon after their marriage his wife was offered a position in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where Warren's repressed homosexual
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
feelings found an outlet in many contacts with North African boys. Although this created tension in his marriage, it also sparked his poetic career: Warren published three collections of poetry during his years in Paris, and the marriage, in the end, lasted until 1978.
Creative period
In 1958 the family returned to Zeeland, and Warren produced little writing until the end of the 1960s, when the publishing company Bert BakkerBert Bakker
Lambertus Jozef Bakker was a Dutch writer and publisher in the Netherlands. He wrote literary studies, two novels, poetry, and children's books. In World War II he was involved in the Dutch Resistance and assisted in the publication of Vrij Nederland...
published a collection of new poems by Warren, Tussen hybris en vergaan. In 1969 Warren met Gerrit Komrij
Gerrit Komrij
Gerrit Jan Komrij is a Dutch poet, novelist, translator, critic, polemic journalist and playwright. From 2000 to 2004 he was the Dutch Dichter des Vaderlands .-Biography:...
and the two poets began a long and mutually inspiring friendship. During the next ten years, Warren published a new book of poetry every year.
In 1978 Warren met Mario Molegraaf, forty years his junior (Warren was 57 at that time). The two began a tumultuous love affair that lasted until Warren's death. Molegraaf was a talented writer himself, and together they published a number of translations: the entire work of Constantine P. Cavafy
Constantine P. Cavafy
Constantine P. Cavafy, also known as Konstantin or Konstantinos Petrou Kavafis, or Kavaphes was a renowned Greek poet who lived in Alexandria and worked as a journalist and civil servant...
, several poems by George Seferis, works by Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and Epicurius, and the four gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
s.
Secret Diary and other publications
The publication of his series of diaries caused some concern among Warren's friends and colleagues: as the title implies, the diaries are quite frank. Warren openly describes his own life and experiences, and offers his opinions on everyone, including his friends. The twentieth volume covered the years 1996 to 1998, with one more volume to be published.From 1985 until 2002, Meulenhoff published a Warren calendar
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
with a poem each day. Together with Molegraaf, Warren published several popular poetry anthologies.
Death and afterlife
Warren died at age 80 of liver problems; even his final year is described in his diary (which he kept until three days before his death) and in that of Molegraaf (published in 2002). In 2004, two novels he wrote in 1950 (Een vriend voor de schemering and Om het behoud der eenzaamheid) were rediscovered; Een vriend voor de schemering was published in 2005. A movie based on his novel Steen der hulp is in production.Awards
- 1958 - Lucy B. en C.W. van der Hoogtprijs for Saïd
- 1970 - Pierre Bayle-prijs for his literary criticism
- 1971 - Zeeuwse prijs voor Kunsten en Wetenschappen for his entire oeuvre
- 1981 - Culture award from the city Goes for Geheim dagboek and his weekly literary reviews in the Provinciale Zeeuwse CourantProvinciale Zeeuwse CourantThe Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant is a Dutch newspaper for the region of Zeeland. It is owned by Koninklijke Wegener BV. Founded in 1758, it is the third-oldest newspaper in the country.-History:...
Poetry
- 1946 - Pastorale
- 1951 - Eiland in de stroom
- 1954 - Leeuw lente
- 1954 - Vijf in je oog
- 1957 - Saïd
- 1966 - Een roos van Jericho
- 1969 - Tussen hybris en vergaan
- 1970 - Kritieken
- 1972 - Schetsen uit het Hongaarse volksleven
- 1972 - Verzamelde gedichten 1941-1971
- 1973 - De Olympos
- 1974 - Betreffende vogels
- 1974 - Een liefdeslied
- 1974 - Herakles op de tweesprong
- 1975 - t Zelve anders
- 1975 - Winter in Pompeï
- 1976 - Demetrios
- 1976 - Sperma en tranen
- 1976 - Zeggen wat nooit iemand zei
- 1976 - Zeven gedichten van liefde
- 1978 - De vondst in het wrak
- 1978 - Een otter in Americain
- 1978 - Behalve linde, tamarinde en banaan (revised edition of Sperma en tranen)
- 1978 - Voor Mario
- 1981 - Verzamelde gedichten 1941-1981
- 1982 - Dit is werkelijk voor jou geschreven (self-selected anthology)
- 1986 - Bij Marathon
- 1986 - Tijd
- 1987 - Ik ging naar de geheime kamers
- 1989 - Binnenste buiten
- 1992 - Nakijken, dromen, derven
- 1993 - Indigo
- 1996 - Ik ging naar de Noordnol
- 2001 - De Oost
- 2001 - Een stip op de wereldkaart
Prose fiction
- 1975 - Steen der hulp (tweede druk 1983; trans. in English as Secretly Inside
- 2004 - Tussen Borssele en Parijs
- 2005 - Een vriend voor de schemering
Non-fiction
- 1947 - In memoriam Dr. Jac. P. Thijsse
- 1949 - Nachtvogels
- 1981 - Geheim dagboek 1942-
- 1987 - Het dagboek als kunstvorm
- 1993 - Geheim dagboek 1939-1940
- 2001 - Om het behoud der eenzaamheid (selections from Geheim dagboek)
Anthologies
- 1959 - Mijn hart wou nergens tieren (bloemlezing uit het werk van P.C. Boutens)
- 1980 - Spiegel van de Nederlandse poëzie (revised edition 1984)