Joost Zwagerman

Joost Zwagerman.

Johannes Jacobus Willebrordus (Joost) Zwagerman (born Alkmaar, November 18, 1963) is a Dutch writer, poet, and essayist. Among his teachers was the novelist Oek de Jong.

Education

At the age of nine Joost Zwagerman produced his own magazine, De Zwagergids, which was compiled of texts and images from TV magazines. Zwagerman received his high-school education at the Rijksscholengemeenschap Noord-Kennemerland in Alkmaar, The Netherlands, where he graduated from havo and moved on to study Dutch language (Nederlandse taal- en letterkunde, unfinished) at the Pedagogische Academie. He was a student at a course of creative writing by Oek de Jong.

Work

Joost Zwagerman made his debut with the novel De houdgreep in 1986. His second novel, Gimmick! (1989), was adapted as a play, and reached a much wider audience. He wrote his third book, Vals licht, in 1991 and was awarded the "AKO literatuurprijs". Vals Licht was the basis for a movie by Theo van Gogh (1993). More novels followed, including Chaos en Rumoer, Zes Sterren and De buitenvrouw. Zwagerman's work has been translated into twelve languages, including German, French and Japanese.

Besides books, Zwagerman also published poetry and essays. His first bundle of poems was published in 1987 'Langs de doofpot'. The Awater poetry prize was awarded for his most recent bundle 'Roeshoofd hemelt', which was reprinted four times. Among his essay work are the 'Pornotheek Arcadië' and 'Het vijfde seizoen' published in 2001 and 2003.

Joost Zwagerman is also active as a columnist for the Dutch newspapers previously for the Volkskrant (1998–2002) and since 2001 for NRC Handelsblad. Additionally he was the host of a Dutch television programme (Zomergasten) and appeared in theater with the Dutch writer Ronald Giphart . Besides his work as a writer and columnist, he also frequently appears on Dutch national television, in the show De Wereld Draait Door,[1] broadcast by VARA,[2] where he often holds mini-lectures on art-related subjects. As an amateur art lover himself, Zwagerman enjoys transferring his love for art to a wider audience.

As a writer Zwagerman was connected to two universities; in 1998 Rijksuniversiteit Groningen and 2003 Universiteit Leiden. He also lectured at the Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen during the "Frans Kellendonklezing" in 2006. In January 2008 Zwagerman was awarded the "Gouden Ganzeveer",[3] for his work as an extraordinairy addition to the Dutch written culture.

Joost Zwagerman lives with his wife and children in Amsterdam.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ dewerelddraaitdoor.vara.nl
  2. ↑ vara.nl
  3. ↑ "Laureaat 2008: Joost Zwagerman". goudenganzenveer.nl.

Dutch links