Michaël Zeeman
Encyclopedia
Michaël Zeeman was a prominent Dutch
journalist
, author
, editor
, columnist
and literary critic. He received the C. Buddingh' Award, given annually for the best debut in Dutch poetry (named for C. Buddingh'
), for Beeldenstorm in 1991. He was also awarded the Gouden Ganzenveer
, given to people who have significantly contributed to Dutch literary culture, in 2002.
Zeeman died in July 2009 at the age of 50, of a brain tumor.
, in a pastor
's family. His father wanted him to study theology
, but Zeeman left faith and family behind to study philosophy
in Utrecht
and Groningen
, though he never got his degree. He worked in a bookstore in Leeuwarden and began reviewing literature.
, on poetry, prose fiction and non-fiction
, music, theater, and visual arts. He also published a number of poetry and short story collections. For two years he was the editor of the arts section of de Volkskrant, but lost that position because he was notoriously difficult to work with; afterward, he worked freelance, and for a while was the paper's cultural correspondent in Rome
. His knowledge of literature was immense and his work as a critic influential. He has been compared to Kees Fens
, the most widely recognized Dutch critic). Especially notable was his feud with Joost Zwagerman
, one of the most prominent Dutch writers from the late 1980s onwards, whose novel Chaos en rumoer was "publicly executed" in Zeeman's television program.
television which gained national recognition, Kamer met Uitzicht and Zeeman met Boeken (1995–2002), for which he interviewed writers such as Jeanette Winterson
and Philip Roth
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
and literary critic. He received the C. Buddingh' Award, given annually for the best debut in Dutch poetry (named for C. Buddingh'
C. Buddingh'
Cornelis Buddingh was a Dutch poet, TV-presenter, translator, and the father of Harry Potter translator Wiebe Buddingh'. Amongst others he translated A Clockwork Orange and the complete works of William Shakespeare into Dutch.-Poetry:In the early years of his career Kees Buddingh' mainly wrote...
), for Beeldenstorm in 1991. He was also awarded the Gouden Ganzenveer
Gouden Ganzenveer
The Gouden Ganzenveer is a Dutch cultural award initiated in 1955, given annually to a person or organization of great significance to the written and printed word. Recipients are selected by an academy of people from the cultural, political, scientific, and corporate world. Members meet once a...
, given to people who have significantly contributed to Dutch literary culture, in 2002.
Zeeman died in July 2009 at the age of 50, of a brain tumor.
Biography
Zeeman was born in Marken, a small, mainly Protestant town north of 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...
, in a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
's family. His father wanted him to study theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, but Zeeman left faith and family behind to study philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in Utrecht
Utrecht University
Utrecht University is a university in Utrecht, Netherlands. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands and one of the largest in Europe. Established March 26, 1636, it had an enrollment of 29,082 students in 2008, and employed 8,614 faculty and staff, 570 of which are full professors....
and Groningen
University of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
, though he never got his degree. He worked in a bookstore in Leeuwarden and began reviewing literature.
Literary career and criticism
Since 1991, Zeeman wrote columns and essays for the Dutch newspaper de VolkskrantDe Volkskrant
de Volkskrant is a national daily Dutch morning newspaper, the leading centre-left broadsheet, although now in tabloid size.-History:...
, on poetry, prose fiction and non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
, music, theater, and visual arts. He also published a number of poetry and short story collections. For two years he was the editor of the arts section of de Volkskrant, but lost that position because he was notoriously difficult to work with; afterward, he worked freelance, and for a while was the paper's cultural correspondent in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. His knowledge of literature was immense and his work as a critic influential. He has been compared to Kees Fens
Kees Fens
Kees Fens was a Dutch writer, essayist and literary critic.Fens received the P. C. Hooft Award in 1990.-External links:* – Digital library for Dutch literature...
, the most widely recognized Dutch critic). Especially notable was his feud with Joost Zwagerman
Joost Zwagerman
Johannes Jacobus Willebrordus Zwagerman is a Dutch writer, poet, and essayist. Among his teachers was the novelist Oek de Jong.- Education :At the age of nine Joost Zwagerman was already engaged with texts...
, one of the most prominent Dutch writers from the late 1980s onwards, whose novel Chaos en rumoer was "publicly executed" in Zeeman's television program.
Television career
Starting in the mid 1990s, Zeeman presented two literary programs for 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...
television which gained national recognition, Kamer met Uitzicht and Zeeman met Boeken (1995–2002), for which he interviewed writers such as Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson
Jeanette Winterson OBE is a British novelist.-Early years:Winterson was born in Manchester and adopted on 21 January 1960. She was raised in Accrington, Lancashire, by Constance and John William Winterson...
and Philip Roth
Philip Roth
Philip Milton Roth is an American novelist. He gained fame with the 1959 novella Goodbye, Columbus, an irreverent and humorous portrait of Jewish-American life that earned him a National Book Award...
.
External links
- Zeeman's columns for de Volkskrant, 2008-2009: