Jotie T'Hooft

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Johan Geeraard Adriaan T'Hooft (May 9, 1956 - October 6, 1977) was a Belgian neo-romantic poet.

[edit] Life

Jotie T'Hooft was born May 9, 1956 in Oudenaarde, Belgium. He was an only child. During his younger years, he was an excellent student, but had difficulties adjusting to life as a secondary school student. He was expelled from several schools by the time he was 14. It is then that he sought safety in literature, especially the works of Franz Kafka and Hermann Hesse--and drugs.

He moved out at age 17 to study in Gent. However, his drug habit prevented him from ever beginning his studies. In 1973 he made his first suicide attempt.

He married in 1974. His father-in-law was a publisher who agreed to publish his works.

He eventually succumbed to his drug addiction and succeeded in committing suicide after a third try in 1977.

[edit] Themes

The most obvious theme in his poetry is death. This is perfectly characterized by a phrase from one of his poems: I am world, in me unstopably the deathflower awakens. According to his poetry, he sees himself as a stranger; the world is a foreign place to him.

[edit] References

Schrijversnet.nl: Hooft (at the 'Writersnet', in Dutch)