| Dutch writer, artist, sculptor Country: Netherlands |
Jan Wolkers (1925-2007) was a Dutch writer, artist, and sculptor, and one of the greatest prose writers of the second half of the 20th century. His novels and stories have been adapted into films and musicals, and his works have been translated into many languages.
Jan Wolkers was born into a large Calvinist family. In traditional Calvinist families, it was customary for the head of the family to read aloud a chapter from the Bible three times a day, after breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Both adults and children were familiar with the Bible and saw the world through the lens of biblical storytelling. This is why Wolkers' works often incorporate numerous biblical quotes, adding an additional dimension to the events described.
Wolkers gained popularity in the 1960s, following the publication of his first books, such as "The Skirt of Serpentine" (1961), "The Short American" (1962), "Back to Oegstgeest" (1965), and "Turkish Delight" (1969). His fearless revolutionary spirit and relentless honesty in addressing issues of sex, religion, and parent-child relationships were eye-opening for many during the 1960s.
A significant portion of Wolkers' works are autobiographical. They contain the author's memories of his childhood, particularly his interest in drawing, which ultimately influenced his choice to become a sculptor. These memories are intertwined with stories of his visits to his elderly parents, who still lived in the town of Oegstgeest, near Leiden, where his youth was spent.
"Summer Heat" (2005), also known as "Zomerhitte," is a typical work by Wolkers. In vibrant colors, the writer depicts a summer love on the warm beaches of Texel, an island in the north of the Netherlands. The main characters are a photographer and a young bartender. The novel explores a love triangle, mysterious events, religion, death, art, sex, violence, all set against the backdrop of eternal nature.