Simon Vestdijk

Statue of Simon Vestdijk in Doorn

Simon Vestdijk (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsimɔn ˈvɛzdɛi̯k]; October 17, 1898 – March 23, 1971) was a Dutch writer.

Born in the small Frisian town of Harlingen, Vestdijk studied medicine in Amsterdam, but turned to literature after a few years as a doctor. He became one of the most important 20th-century writers in the Netherlands. His prolificness as a novelist was legendary, but he was at least as important as an essayist on e.g., literature, religion, art, and music in particular. He also wrote much poetry and short stories. His work has been translated into most Western European languages.

Bibliography (books in English)

• Simon Vestdijk: On the poet Emily Dickinson. Transl. by Peter Twydell. Doorn, Mycenta Vitilis, 2002. ISBN 90-75663-37-4 (Orig. publ. in 1933)
• Simon Vestdijk: Back to Ina Damman = Retour à Ina Damman / radio-play adaptation of the novel by Simon Vestdijk ; adaptation: Marc Lohmann. (Transl. of an adaptation of Terug tot Ina Damman. Hilversum, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, 1988. No ISBN
• S. Vestdijk: The garden where the brass band played. Transl. by A. Brotherton, with an introd. by Hella S. Haasse. London, Quartet Books, 1992. ISBN 0-7043-0173-3. Other editions: New York, New Amsterdam, 1989. ISBN 0-941533-59-X; Leyden/London/New York, 1965. No ISBN
• Emily Dickinson: Gedichten. Transl. by S. Vestdijk. Den Haag, Bert Bakker, 1969.
• Emily Dickinson: Selected poems. (Chosen by Simon Vestdijk). Amsterdam, Balkema, 1940 (=1944)
• Simon Vestdijk: Rum Island, Transl. by B.K. Bowes. London, John Calder, 1963
• Simon Vestdijk : My brown friend & Miodrag Bulatović : Lovers & Keith Johnstone: The return & Robert Pinget: La manivelle. The old tune (English adapt. by Samuel Beckett). London, Calder, 1962

External links

• http://www.svestdijk.nl/al/wpengels.html
• http://www.vestdijk.com (Dutch)

• Works by or about Simon Vestdijk in libraries (WorldCat catalog)