August Willemsen
Encyclopedia
August Willemsen was a Dutch
translator of Portuguese
and Brazilian literature
. He also published essay
s, diaries and letters. Willemsen was known for his powerful use of the Dutch language and his flawless style
.
, Willemsen enrolled at the Conservatorium to study the piano
. He decided, however, that literature was his first choice and, at a relatively late age, he began studying Portuguese
. His translations of the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa
gained him recognition as a leading translator. In 1983 his translations were awarded the Martinus Nijhoff Prize. In 1986 he received the Lucy B. and C.W. van der Hoogt Award for Braziliaanse brieven. Till his death on 29 November 2007, Willemsen was working on translating Pessoa's entire oeuvre.
broadcast, duration: three hours.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
translator of Portuguese
Portuguese literature
This is a survey of Portuguese literature.The Portuguese language was developed gradually from the Vulgar language spoken in the countries which formed part of the Roman Empire and, both in morphology and syntax, it represents an organic transformation of Latin without the direct intervention of...
and Brazilian literature
Brazilian literature
Brazilian literature is written in the Portuguese language by Brazilians or in Brazil, even if prior to Brazil's independence from Portugal, in 1822...
. He also published essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s, diaries and letters. Willemsen was known for his powerful use of the Dutch language and his flawless style
Stylistics (linguistics)
Stylistics is the study and interpretation of texts from a linguistic perspective. As a discipline it links literary criticism and linguistics, but has no autonomous domain of its own...
.
Biography
After completing his secondary education in AmsterdamAmsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Willemsen enrolled at the Conservatorium to study the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. He decided, however, that literature was his first choice and, at a relatively late age, he began studying Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
. His translations of the Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa
Fernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa , was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.-Early years in Durban:On 13 July...
gained him recognition as a leading translator. In 1983 his translations were awarded the Martinus Nijhoff Prize. In 1986 he received the Lucy B. and C.W. van der Hoogt Award for Braziliaanse brieven. Till his death on 29 November 2007, Willemsen was working on translating Pessoa's entire oeuvre.
Limited bibliography
- Braziliaanse brieven, letters from Willemsen, who lived in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
at the time of writing, to his friends. He writes about the country, the people, the culture and the conservative Dutch expatExpatriateAn expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s (1985). - De taal als bril, essayEssayAn essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s (1987). - Een liefde in het Zuiden, en De dood in Zuid, two stories that were later included in Vrienden, vreemden, vrouwen (1988).
- De val, diary about the months during which Willemsen was recovering from a fall that was caused by an alcohol addiction. (1991).
- De Goddelijke Kanarie, lyrical history of Brazilian soccer (1994).
- Het hoogste woord, beschouwingen en boutades, essayEssayAn essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s (1994). - Sprekend een brief, letter to Thomas Rap about the decision to start living in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(1998). - Vrienden, vreemden, vrouwen, diary of the adolescent Willemsen, with critiques from the present day Willemsen (1998).
- De tuin van IJben, youth essay of a school trip to FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(1999). - Van Tibooburra naar Packsaddle (with Bert Verhoeff), essays about AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, backpackingBackpacking (travel)Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used...
, AboriginalsIndigenous AustraliansIndigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
and sports (2001).
Translations
- Carlos Drummond de AndradeCarlos Drummond de AndradeCarlos Drummond de Andrade was perhaps the most influential Brazilian poet of the 20th century. He has become something of a national poet; his poem "Canção Amiga" was printed on the 50 cruzados note...
- Machado de Assis
- Hector MalotHector MalotHector Malot was a French writer born in La Bouille, Seine-Maritime. He studied law in Rouen and Paris, but eventually literature became his passion. He worked as a dramatic critic for Lloyd Francais and as a literary critic for L'Opinion Nationale.His first book, published in 1859, was Les...
, Alleen op de wereld. - Fernando PessoaFernando PessoaFernando Pessoa, born Fernando António Nogueira de Seabra Pessoa , was a Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic and translator described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century and one of the greatest poets in the Portuguese language.-Early years in Durban:On 13 July...
- Graciliano RamosGraciliano RamosGraciliano Ramos de Oliveira was a Brazilian Post-Modernist writer, politician and journalist. In most of his novels he depicts the precarious situation of the poor inhabitants of the Brazilian sertão.-Life:Graciliano Ramos de Oliveira was born in the city of Quebrangulo, in the Brazilian State...
- João Guimarães RosaJoão Guimarães RosaJoão Guimarães Rosa was a Brazilian novelist, considered by many to be one of the greatest Brazilian novelists born in the 20th century. His best-known work is the novel Grande Sertão: Veredas...
External links
Radio-interview with Willemsen; a VPROVPRO
The VPRO was established in the Netherlands in 1926 as a religious broadcasting organization. Falling under the Protestant pillar, it represented the Liberal Protestant current...
broadcast, duration: three hours.