Herman Brusselmans
Encyclopedia
Herman Frans Martha Brusselmans (ˈɦɛrmɑn ˈbrʏsəlmɑns; born 9 October 1957 in Hamme
, Belgium
) is a Flemish novelist, poet, playwright and columnist. He lives in Ghent
.
Herman Brusselmans studied Dutch and English at the University of Ghent. In his early twenties he was a successful football player. He played for Vigor Hamme and SK Lokeren. He now has his own football team called "De Woody's", after his late dog Woody. Brusselmans married in 1981 but divorced several years later. He married his second wife Tania in 2005.
Brusselmans gained widespread popularity in the early 1980s as part of the new generation of young Flemish novelists that included Tom Lanoye
and Kristien Hemmerechts
.
Although Herman Brusselmans recently stated in the Flemish magazine HUMO
that he would stop writing about existing people and situations, his work is highly autobiographical up to this point. Alcohol, sex and boredom are recurring themes throughout his work.
Not only his work contributed to his stardom, but also his media appearances. He used to have his own television show, and still appears regularly on talkshows. He also has a weekly column in HUMO
. Bold, straightforward statements and comments have become his trademark throughout the years and always attract attention. This trademark cost him several lawsuits. The most memorable of which was when Ann Demeulemeester
, a Belgian fashion designer, filed a complaint with the court about a remark that was made about her in "Uitgeverij Guggenheimer". This led to a recall of the book in Belgium.
Critics refer to the recurrences of sex, drugs and boredom in his work by calling them monotonous. Also the autobiographical side and the bold statements are widely regarded as a lack of quality. Nonetheless he is immensely popular and one of the best-selling authors in Flanders
.
He played an autistic Hells Angel painting surrealist slogans on the caravans in the movie Camping Cosmos
(1996).
In early 2007 a film adaptation of Brusselman's novel Ex Drummer
was released, directed by Koen Mortier.
Hamme
Hamme is a municipality located in the Belgian province of East Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Hamme proper and Moerzeke, Zogge and St-Anna as parttowns. On January 1, 2006, Hamme had a total population of 23,232. The total area is 40.21 km² which gives a population density...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
) is a Flemish novelist, poet, playwright and columnist. He lives in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
.
Herman Brusselmans studied Dutch and English at the University of Ghent. In his early twenties he was a successful football player. He played for Vigor Hamme and SK Lokeren. He now has his own football team called "De Woody's", after his late dog Woody. Brusselmans married in 1981 but divorced several years later. He married his second wife Tania in 2005.
Brusselmans gained widespread popularity in the early 1980s as part of the new generation of young Flemish novelists that included Tom Lanoye
Tom Lanoye
Tom Lanoye [lan-WA] is a Belgian novelist and poet who works in Antwerp and Cape Town . He gained widespread popularity in the early 1980s as part of the new generation of young Flemish novelists that included Herman Brusselmans and Kristien Hemmerechts...
and Kristien Hemmerechts
Kristien Hemmerechts
Kristien Hemmerechts is a Belgian writer.-Life:Kristien Hemmerechts studied Germanic philology at the Katholieke Universiteit Brussel and the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven . Afterwards, she studied literary science in Amsterdam for a year. In Amsterdam she met her first husband—who was...
.
Although Herman Brusselmans recently stated in the Flemish magazine HUMO
HUMO
HUMO is a popular Belgian weekly radio and television magazine, written in Dutch.Originally the magazine was titled Humoradio, a portmanteau of 'humor' and 'radio'....
that he would stop writing about existing people and situations, his work is highly autobiographical up to this point. Alcohol, sex and boredom are recurring themes throughout his work.
Not only his work contributed to his stardom, but also his media appearances. He used to have his own television show, and still appears regularly on talkshows. He also has a weekly column in HUMO
HUMO
HUMO is a popular Belgian weekly radio and television magazine, written in Dutch.Originally the magazine was titled Humoradio, a portmanteau of 'humor' and 'radio'....
. Bold, straightforward statements and comments have become his trademark throughout the years and always attract attention. This trademark cost him several lawsuits. The most memorable of which was when Ann Demeulemeester
Ann Demeulemeester
Ann Demeulemeester is a fashion designer whose eponymous label 'Ann Demeulemeester' is mainly showcased at the annual Paris Fashion Week.-Early life:...
, a Belgian fashion designer, filed a complaint with the court about a remark that was made about her in "Uitgeverij Guggenheimer". This led to a recall of the book in Belgium.
Critics refer to the recurrences of sex, drugs and boredom in his work by calling them monotonous. Also the autobiographical side and the bold statements are widely regarded as a lack of quality. Nonetheless he is immensely popular and one of the best-selling authors in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
.
He played an autistic Hells Angel painting surrealist slogans on the caravans in the movie Camping Cosmos
Camping Cosmos
Camping Cosmos is a Belgian 1996 film, sequel to La Vie sexuelle des Belges 1950-1978, directed by Jan Bucquoy. It stars Claude Semal, Lolo Ferrari , Noël Godin , Herman Brusselmans and Arno ....
(1996).
In early 2007 a film adaptation of Brusselman's novel Ex Drummer
Ex Drummer
Ex Drummer is a 2007 Flemish film directed by Koen Mortier. It is based on the book by Herman Brusselmans of the same name.- Plot :In Ostend three handicapped musicians are looking for a drummer for their band, consisting entirely of disabled people. They want to perform only one time at a music...
was released, directed by Koen Mortier.
Partial bibliography
- 1982 Het zinneloze zeilen (stories)
- 1984 Prachtige ogen (novel)
- 1985 De man die werk vond (novel)
- 1986 Heden ben ik nuchter (novel)
- 1987 Zijn er kanalen in Aalst? (novel)
- 1988 "De aambeien van Rik de Clercq" (horror)
- 1988 De Geschiedenis van de Vlaamse Letterkunde.
- 1988 Iedere zondag sterven en doodgaan in de week (short novel)
- 1989 Dagboek van een vermoeide egoïst (novel)
- 1989 De Canadese muur (play), together with Tom LanoyeTom LanoyeTom Lanoye [lan-WA] is a Belgian novelist and poet who works in Antwerp and Cape Town . He gained widespread popularity in the early 1980s as part of the new generation of young Flemish novelists that included Herman Brusselmans and Kristien Hemmerechts...
- 1989 De Geschiedenis van de Wereldliteratuur (columns)
- 1990 Vlucht voor mij (novel)
- 1991 Ex-schrijver (novel)
- 1992 Het mooie kotsende meisje (stories)
- 1993 Ex-minnaar (novel)
- 1994 Ex-drummer (novel)
- 1994 Het oude nieuws van deze tijden (novel)
- 1995 De terugkeer van Bonanza (novel)
- 1995 Vrouwen met een IQ (novel)
- 1996 Autobiografie van iemand anders (novel)
- 1996 Guggenheimer wast witter (novel)
- 1997 Meisjes hebben grotere borsten dan jongens. (children's poetry)
- 1997 Zul je mij altijd graag zien? (autobiography)
- 1997 Logica voor idioten (semi-autobiographical novel)
- 1998 Bloemen op mijn graf (collection of stories, columns, poetry, etc.)
- 1998 Nog drie keer slapen en ik word wakker (novel)
- 1999 Het einde van mensen in 1967 (stories)
- 1999 Uitgeverij Guggenheimer (novel)
- 2000 Vergeef mij de liefde (novel)
- 2000 De koffer (comic book)
- 2001 Pitface (novel)
- 2002 De Kus in de Nacht (novel)
- 2002 Mank (novel)
- 2003 De Droogte (novel)
- 2004 Ik ben rijk en beroemd en heb nekpijn (novel)
- 2004 In de knoei (novel)
- 2004 Heilige schrik (Collection of columns published in HUMOHUMOHUMO is a popular Belgian weekly radio and television magazine, written in Dutch.Originally the magazine was titled Humoradio, a portmanteau of 'humor' and 'radio'....
) - 2005 Het spook van Toetegaai (novel)
- 2006 De dollartekens in de ogen van Moeder Theresa (short story)
- 2007 Muggepuut (novel)
- 2008 Toos (novel)
- 2009 Mijn haar is lang (novel)
- 2009 Kaloemmerkes in de zep (novel)
- 2010 Trager dan de snelheid (novel)
- 2011 Van drie tot zes (novel)
- 2011 De biografie van John Muts (novel)
See also
- Herman Brusselmans website
- Flemish literatureFlemish literatureFlemish literature is literature from Flanders, historically a region comprising parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Until the early 19th century, this literature was regarded as an integral part of Dutch literature...