Wolkers, Jan 1925-2007 (Jan Hendrik Wolkers)

OBITUARY NOTICE—

See index for CA sketch: Born October 26, 1925, in Oegstgeest, Netherlands; died October 19, 2007, in Texel, on the Frisian island of Texel, Netherlands. Sculptor, novelist, poet, and playwright. The novels and other writings of this prolific author were not frequently translated into English, but Wolkers was both celebrated and vilified in his native land. Wolkers penetrated the pious, conservative facade of Dutch society in the 1960s with books that were erotic, sometimes explicit, and, not surprisingly, extremely popular. He is best known internationally for Turks Fruit (1969), a novel of the on-and-off love affair of a sculptor and the woman he loved, married, divorced, and finally attended when she lay on her deathbed. The novel was translated as Turkish Delight and was adapted for a feature film starring Rutger Hauer. Like many of Wolkers's writings, the novel evokes beauty and ugliness at the same time, portrays life next to death, kindness next to cruelty. Novels like Een Roos van Vlees (1963), the reportedly autobiographical Terug naar Oegstgeest (1965), and Horribele Tango (1967) liberated some readers and revolted others, but they were read by many and translated widely throughout Europe. Wolkers wrote dozens of books, including novels, short stories, plays, literary criticism, and other nonfiction. As he aged, some critics noted an increase in the symbolism reflected in his novels—along with an apparent retreat from literary realism—but others reported that Wolkers's writings reflected an increasing political and social awareness. Toward the end of his life he also devoted less time to writing in favor of his highly regarded work as a sculptor. One sculpture that drew special praise was a monument to Auschwitz that he created from broken mirrors at a park in Amsterdam, where people gather each year to honor Holocaust victims.

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Los Angeles Times, October 21, 2007, p. B12.

Times (London, England), November 24, 2007, p. 83.

Washington Post, October 21, 2007, p. C7.