Stijn Streuvels

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Stijn Streuvels with grandchildren and great-grandchildren

Stijn Streuvels was the pseudonym of the Flemish writer Frank Lateur (born October 3, 1871 in Heule, a village belonging to Kortrijk ; † August 15, 1969 in Ingooigem, a sub-municipality of Anzegem ).

Streuvels is considered one of the most important innovators of literature in the Dutch language for his era . He wrote naturalistic stories, influenced by Émile Zola and the great Russian writers of his time (especially Tolstoy ).

He was self-taught and spoke several languages ​​actively and passively, including French and German . He could read Norwegian . Only he didn't speak Russian . Nevertheless, he translated the work of Tolstoy and other Russian writers with the help of German translations.

Literary scholars in the Dutch-speaking area agree that the visionary power of his work, the relentless recognition of reality without moralizing comment (Albert Westerlinck), the creative linguistic power of his prose and the universality of the subjects dealt with make his work above the level of particularistic and regional Have raised literature.

Relationship to German literature

Many of his works were translated into German as early as the first third of the 20th century. Streuvel's work was also valued by the National Socialists and used for their " blood and soil " propaganda. In 1935/1936, along with René de Clercq and Cyriel Verschaeve, he was one of the first Flemish writers to receive the National Socialist-inspired Rembrandt Prize for their services to the “Dutch-Low German nationality”.

The use that political circles make of literature, however, does not allow uncritical inferences to be drawn about the attitude of an author. In 1941, Streuvels renounced a series of lectures organized by German propaganda in the Reich. When the University of Münster awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1941, he refused to receive the delegation that had come to hand over the certificate. In contrast to other personalities of Flemish particularism, Streuvels received numerous awards in Belgium after 1945.

Streuvels received an honorary doctorate from the Universities of Löwen , Münster and the University of Pretoria in 1964

Works in German translation

  • The flax field . Manesse Verlag, Zurich 1986
  • The harvest. A story . Insel, Leipzig 1917
  • The great bridge . J. Engelhorns Nachf., Stuttgart 1938
  • Cross driver at work. Narratives . German Folk Books, Stuttgart 1942
  • Spring . Engelhorn Verlag, Stuttgart 1952
  • Martje Maartens and the wicked gravedigger. Narration . Reclam, Stuttgart 1954

Film adaptations

In the film version (directed by Boleslav Barlog ) from 1943 his novel The flat Sacker Streuvels played a small role.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ pallas.cegesoma.be: Photo of the award document from October 3, 1941 (accessed May 12, 2015)
personal data
SURNAME Streuvels, Stijn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Lateur, Frank (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Flemish writer
DATE OF BIRTH October 3, 1871
PLACE OF BIRTH Kortrijk
DATE OF DEATH 15th August 1969
Place of death Display