Alfred Kossmann
Encyclopedia
Alfred Kossmann was a Dutch poet and prose writer. Kossmann and his brother Ernst Kossmann
, a distinguished Dutch historian, were twins.
in Rotterdam but never finished it. Subsequently he worked for several years in bookshops and publishing houses. In the Second World War
he was arrested. He had to work for two-and-a-half year in Germany, together with his twin brother Ernst. Kossmann published in 1950 a novel, De nederlaag (The defeat), that was based on their experiences during the war.
After the war he worked mainly in publishing houses. As an experienced traveller he has written some travel literature
.
In 1972 Kossmann had a car accident that left him disabled. His novel Laatst ging ik spelevaren (Of late I went out boating) was based on these experiences. After the accident he lived several years in Greece. He died in Amsterdam.
Kossmann's work is characterized by a sense of irony and detachment.
Ernst Kossmann
Ernst Heinrich Kossmann was a Dutch historian. He was professor of Modern History at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. His magnum opus is The Low Countries. History of the Southern and Northern Netherlands....
, a distinguished Dutch historian, were twins.
Biography
Born in Leiden, Kossmann was the son of the erudite librarian F. H. Kossmann. He had two brothers. His twin brother Ernst became a historian; his younger brother Bernhard played the violin professionally. The Kossmann family was partly of Jewish descent and they came from Germany before they settled in Holland. Kossmann attended the Gymnasium ErasmianumGymnasium Erasmianum
The Gymnasium Erasmianum is a school in Rotterdam .-History:Founded in 1328, it is the second oldest school in the Netherlands with recorded date of establishement...
in Rotterdam but never finished it. Subsequently he worked for several years in bookshops and publishing houses. In the Second World War
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 was arrested. He had to work for two-and-a-half year in Germany, together with his twin brother Ernst. Kossmann published in 1950 a novel, De nederlaag (The defeat), that was based on their experiences during the war.
After the war he worked mainly in publishing houses. As an experienced traveller he has written some travel literature
Travel literature
Travel literature is travel writing of literary value. Travel literature typically records the experiences of an author touring a place for the pleasure of travel. An individual work is sometimes called a travelogue or itinerary. Travel literature may be cross-cultural or transnational in focus, or...
.
In 1972 Kossmann had a car accident that left him disabled. His novel Laatst ging ik spelevaren (Of late I went out boating) was based on these experiences. After the accident he lived several years in Greece. He died in Amsterdam.
Kossmann's work is characterized by a sense of irony and detachment.
Poetry
- Het vuurwerk (1946)
- De bosheks (1951)
- Apologie der varkens (1954)
- De veldtocht en andere gedichten (1959)
- Rotterdam (1969)
- Dagboek uit en thuis (1981)
Prose
- De nederlaag (1950)
- De moord op Arend Zwigt (1951)
- De linkerhand (1955)
- De hondenplaag (1956)
- De bekering (1957)
- De misdaad (1962)
- De smaak van groene kaas (1965)
- Reisverhaal (1966)
- Proeve van vaderland (1967)
- De vrouwenhaters (1968)
- De architect (1969)
- De wind en de lichten der schepen (1970)
- Ga weg, ga weg, zei de vogel (1971)
- Waarover wil je dat ik schrijf (columns) (1972)
- Laatst ging ik spelevaren (1973)
- O roos, je bent ziek (1979)
- Geur der droefenis (1980)
- De vrijheid, de leegte, de dood (1981)
- Hoogmoed en dronkenschap (1981)
- Een gouden beker (1982)
- Drempel van ouderdom (1983)
- In alle onschuld (1984)
- Rampspoed. Novelle van de leraar (1985)
- Slecht zicht (1986)
- Duurzame gewoonten of Uit het leven van een romanfiguur (1987)
- Een verjaardag (1989)
- Familieroman (1990)
- Huldigingen (1995)
- De mannen waaruit ik besta (columns) (1999)
Awards
- 1951 - Lucy B. en C.W. van der Hoogtprijs (De nederlaag)
- 1960 - Prijs van de Stichting Kunstenaarsverzet 1942-1945 (collected short stories)
- 1964 - ANWB-prijs (Reislust)
- 1965 - Vijverbergprijs (De smaak van groene kaas)
- 1972 - Marianne Philips-prijs (collected works, especially Ga weg, ga weg zei de vogel)
- 1980 - Constantijn Huygensprijs (collected works)
- 1996 - Libris literatuurprijs (Huldigingen)