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| ⚫ | {{Short description|Dutch writer, art historian and literary critic}} |
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[[Image:Michiel van Kempen.JPG|thumb|right|260px|Michiel van Kempen]] |
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'''Michaël Henricus Gertrudis (Michiel) van Kempen''' (born April |
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| birth_name = Michaël Henricus Gertrudis van Kempen |
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| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1957|04|04}} |
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| occupation = Writer, art historian and literary critic |
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| language = [[Dutch language|Dutch]] |
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| years_active = 2003–present |
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| ⚫ | '''Michaël Henricus Gertrudis (Michiel) van Kempen''' (born4 April 1957) is a [[The Netherlands|Dutch]] writer, art historian and literary critic. He has written [[novel]]s, [[short story|short stories]], [[essay]]s, [[travel literature]] and [[scenario]]s. He was the compiler of a huge range of anthologies of [[Dutch-language literature|Dutch]]-[[Caribbean literature]] ([[Suriname]], [[Netherlands Antilles]]) and wrote an extensive history of the literature of Suriname, in two volumes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/m.h.g.vankempen |title=prof.dr. M.H.G. (Michiel) van Kempen - Universiteit van Amsterdam |publisher=Home.medewerker.uva.nl |accessdate=2012-10-21 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722193841/http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/m.h.g.vankempen/ |archivedate=2012-07-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dbnl.org/auteurs/auteur.php?id=kemp009 |title=Michiel van Kempen · dbnl |publisher=Dbnl.org |date= |accessdate=2014-03-18}}</ref> |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Van Kempen was born in [[Oirschot]]. After attending [[high school]] in [[Eindhoven]], he studied [[Dutch language|Dutch]] at the [[Radboud University Nijmegen|University of Nijmegen]]; on |
Van Kempen was born in [[Oirschot]]. After attending [[high school]] in [[Eindhoven]], he studied [[Dutch language|Dutch]] at the [[Radboud University Nijmegen|University of Nijmegen]]; on 5 June 2002 he got his [[Ph.D.]] at the [[University of Amsterdam]] with the five volumed ''Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur'' (A History of Surinamese Literature), published in two volumes in 2003. In 1400 pages it tells the history of oral and written literatures of Suriname. |
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For some years Van Kempen was |
For some years Van Kempen was taught Dutch in [[Nijmegen]] (1980–1982) and [[Paramaribo]], the capital of Suriname (1983–1987). In Suriname he also worked as a teacher in [[literary criticism]] and [[creative writing]] at the Academie voor Hoger Kunst- en Cultuuronderwijs, as well as coordinator of the Literature Section of the Ministry of Education and Culture. |
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From 1991 through 1995 he was coordinating the Suriname-project of the University Library of Amsterdam (resulting in the ''Suriname-catalogue'', containing some 8000 entries) and from 1994 thru 1998 as a scientific researcher at the [[University of Amsterdam]]. As a lecturer and [[visiting scholar|visiting professor]] he taught at universities around the world. As an advisor he worked for [[festival]]s, [[publishing|publishing houses]] and [[research funding]]s. |
From 1991 through 1995, he was coordinating the Suriname-project of the University Library of Amsterdam (resulting in the ''Suriname-catalogue'', containing some 8000 entries) and from 1994 thru 1998 as a scientific researcher at the [[University of Amsterdam]]. As a lecturer and [[visiting scholar|visiting professor]], he taught at universities around the world. As an advisor, he worked for [[festival]]s, [[publishing|publishing houses]] and [[research funding]]s. |
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[[Image:Walcott Kempen.jpg|thumb |
[[Image:Walcott Kempen.jpg|thumb|Van Kempen and [[Derek Walcott]], [[Nobel Prize in Literature]], in 2008; foto: Usha Marhé]] |
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From |
From 1 September 2006, Van Kempen is a professor by special nomination in Dutch West-Indian literature at the [[University of Amsterdam]]. |
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==Stray essays== |
==Stray essays== |
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Michiel van Kempen was or is editor of several magazines, including ''Uit de Kunst'', ''Tegenspraak'' and ''[[Oso]]'' (magazine for Surinamese studies). He made special issues for the literary magazines ''Deus ex Machina'' (1987), ''Preludium'' (1988), ''De Gids'' (1990) en ''Armada'' (1999). In 1986, he founded the weekly Literary Pages of ''De Ware Tijd'', the largest newspaper of Suriname. Articles by his hand appeared in many literary magazines. His newspaper reviews were collected in ''De geest van Waraku'' (1993; The spirit of Waraku). Van Kempen was co-editor of two collections of scientific essays: ''Tussenfiguren'' (1988, Writers in between) en ''Wandelaar onder de palmen'' (2004, Walker under the palm trees). |
Michiel van Kempen was or is editor of several magazines, including ''Uit de Kunst'', ''Tegenspraak'' and ''[[Oso (magazine)|Oso]]'' (magazine for Surinamese studies). He made special issues for the literary magazines ''Deus ex Machina'' (1987), ''Preludium'' (1988), ''De Gids'' (1990) en ''Armada'' (1999). In 1986, he founded the weekly Literary Pages of ''De Ware Tijd'', the largest newspaper of Suriname. Articles by his hand appeared in many literary magazines. His newspaper reviews were collected in ''De geest van Waraku'' (1993; The spirit of Waraku). Van Kempen was co-editor of two collections of scientific essays: ''Tussenfiguren'' (1988, Writers in between) en ''Wandelaar onder de palmen'' (2004, Walker under the palm trees). |
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==Studies on Dutch-Caribbean literature== |
==Studies on Dutch-Caribbean literature== |
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With photographer [[Michel Szulc-Krzyzanowski]] Van Kempen published two [[photobook]]s: ''Woorden die diep wortelen'' (1992; also published in English as ''Deep-rooted words'') on writers and storytellers in Suriname, and ''Woorden op de westenwind'' (1994; Words on the West Wind) on Surinamese writers outside their homeland. Six essays on [[Albert Helman]] were published in ''Kijk vreesloos in de spiegel'' (1998, Look fearless in the mirror). His extensive history of Surinamese literature was |
With photographer [[Michel Szulc-Krzyzanowski]] Van Kempen published two [[photobook]]s: ''Woorden die diep wortelen'' (1992; also published in English as ''Deep-rooted words'') on writers and storytellers in Suriname, and ''Woorden op de westenwind'' (1994; Words on the West Wind) on Surinamese writers outside their homeland. Six essays on [[Albert Helman]] were published in ''Kijk vreesloos in de spiegel'' (1998, Look fearless in the mirror). His extensive history of Surinamese literature was preceded by some other studies: ''De Surinaamse literatuur 1970-1985'' (1987, Surinamese literature 1970-1985) and the popular ''Surinaamse schrijvers en dichters'' (1989, Surinames writes and poets). Major anthologies like ''Spiegel van de Surinaamse poëzie'' (1985, Mirror of the Surinamese poetry), ''Mama Sranan; 200 jaar Surinaamse verhaalkunst'' (1999, Mama Suriname, 200 years Surinamese narrative) en ''Noordoostpassanten; 400 jaar Nederlandse verhaalkunst over Suriname, de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba'' (2005, North-east passers-by; 400 years narrative on Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba) have greatly contributed to the knowledge of Dutch-Caribbean culture. |
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==Awards== |
==Awards== |
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For his merits to Surinamese literary life Van Kempen was awarded in 1987 de Rahmān Khān-prize. In 2004, he was awarded the Flemish/Dutch ANV-Visser Neerlandia-prize. He was [[knight]]ed twice: in 2005 in Suriname as Officer of the [[Honorary Order of the Yellow Star]] and in 2007 in the Netherlands as Knight of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]. |
For his merits to Surinamese literary life Van Kempen was awarded in 1987, de Rahmān Khān-prize. In 2004, he was awarded the Flemish/Dutch ANV-Visser Neerlandia-prize. He was [[knight]]ed twice: in 2005, in Suriname as Officer of the [[Honorary Order of the Yellow Star]] and in 2007, in the Netherlands as Knight of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]. In 2009, he was awarded the [[Gaanman Gazon]] Matodja Award, the highest [[Maroon (people)|Maroons award]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Geplaatst door André R.M. Pakosie |url=http://caraibischeletteren.blogspot.com/2009/04/unieke-schrift-voor-archief.html |title=Caraïbisch uitzicht: Uniek schrift voor archief Marroninstituut Stichting Sabanapeti |publisher=Caraibischeletteren.blogspot.com |date=2009-04-12 |accessdate=2012-10-21}}</ref> |
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==Literary work== |
==Literary work== |
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Van Kempen's literary work comprises two novels, several collections of short stories and two children’s books. His narratives show how people of different cultural origins are being confronted with the impossibility of essentially getting in touch with the other. In the novel ''Plantage Lankmoedigheid'' (1997; Plantation Indulgence) this problem is thematized in a Surinamese setting in the years of the “revolution” and repression following the coup of 1980. Several of the short stories of ''Landmeten'' (1992, Land surveying) do have the same décor. The novel ''Vluchtwegen'' (2006, Escape routes) depicts the story of the immigrants quarter [[Bijlmermeer]] of [[Amsterdam]]. In the title story of ''Pakistaanse nacht en andere verhalen'' (2002, Pakistan night and other stories) a European couple on a journey through [[Pakistan]] sees itself confronted with a retired army colonel, who seems to keep up a hidden agenda. ''Het Nirwana is een lege trein'' (1990, The Nirwana is an empty train) is a collection of travel stories on |
Van Kempen's literary work comprises two novels, several collections of short stories and two children’s books. His narratives show how people of different cultural origins are being confronted with the impossibility of essentially getting in touch with the other. In the novel ''Plantage Lankmoedigheid'' (1997; Plantation Indulgence) this problem is thematized in a Surinamese setting in the years of the “revolution” and repression following the coup of 1980. Several of the short stories of ''Landmeten'' (1992, Land surveying) do have the same décor. The novel ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Vluchtwegen|nl}}'' (2006, Escape routes) depicts the story of the immigrants quarter [[Bijlmermeer]] of [[Amsterdam]]. In the title story of ''Pakistaanse nacht en andere verhalen'' (2002, Pakistan night and other stories) a European couple on a journey through [[Pakistan]] sees itself confronted with a retired army colonel, who seems to keep up a hidden agenda. ''Het Nirwana is een lege trein'' (1990, The Nirwana is an empty train) is a collection of travel stories on India. |
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==Bibliography== |
==Bibliography== |
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===Prose=== |
===Prose=== |
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[[File:Vluchtwegen.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Cover of [[Vluchtwegen]] (2006).]] |
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* ''Windstreken''. De Volksboekwinkel, Amsterdam 1992. (short stories) |
* ''Windstreken''. De Volksboekwinkel, Amsterdam 1992. (short stories) |
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* ''Bijlmer, oh Bijlmer!'' Wilfred du Bois & Margriet Walinga, Amsterdam 1993. (short stories) |
* ''Bijlmer, oh Bijlmer!'' Wilfred du Bois & Margriet Walinga, Amsterdam 1993. (short stories) |
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* ''Ik ben Nalini en ik ben een buitenbeentje''. Kennedy Stichting, Paramaribo 1993.(short story) |
* ''Ik ben Nalini en ik ben een buitenbeentje''. Kennedy Stichting, Paramaribo 1993. (short story) |
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* ''Plantage Lankmoedigheid; roman''. In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 1997. (novel) |
* ''Plantage Lankmoedigheid; roman''. In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 1997. (novel) |
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* ''Het Nirwana is een lege trein: reisverhalen over India''. In de Knipscheer, Amsterdam 2000. (travel story) |
* ''Het Nirwana is een lege trein: reisverhalen over India''. In de Knipscheer, Amsterdam 2000. (travel story) |
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* ''Pakistaanse nacht en andere verhalen''. In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 2002. (short stories) |
* ''Pakistaanse nacht en andere verhalen''. In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 2002. (short stories) |
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* '' |
* ''Vluchtwegen''. De Geus, Breda 2006. (novel) |
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===Prose under pseudonym=== |
===Prose under pseudonym=== |
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* ''Eeuwig Eldorado.'' Boekenweekmagazine 1996. CPNB, Amsterdam 1996. (ed. with others) |
* ''Eeuwig Eldorado.'' Boekenweekmagazine 1996. CPNB, Amsterdam 1996. (ed. with others) |
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* ''Vrijpostige kwatrijnen: een huldebundel voor Hugo Pos.'' In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 1998. |
* ''Vrijpostige kwatrijnen: een huldebundel voor Hugo Pos.'' In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 1998. |
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* Cándani, ''Zal ik terugkeren als je bruid.'' Amsterdam 1999. |
* [[Cándani]], ''Zal ik terugkeren als je bruid.'' Amsterdam 1999. |
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* ''Mama Sranan: twee eeuwen Surinaamse verhaalkunst.'' Contact, Amsterdam 1999, herdruk 2002. |
* ''Mama Sranan: twee eeuwen Surinaamse verhaalkunst.'' Contact, Amsterdam 1999, herdruk 2002. |
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* Michaël Slory, ''In de straten en in de bladeren.'' Paramaribo 2000. |
* [[Michaël Slory]], ''In de straten en in de bladeren.'' Paramaribo 2000. |
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* ''Een geparkeerde kameel: gedichten van Kamil Aydemir e.a.'' Dunya, Rotterdam 2002. |
* ''Een geparkeerde kameel: gedichten van Kamil Aydemir e.a.'' Dunya, Rotterdam 2002. |
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* Bernardo Ashetu, ''Marcel en andere gedichten.'' Okopipi, Paramaribo 2002. |
* [[Bernardo Ashetu]], ''Marcel en andere gedichten.'' Okopipi, Paramaribo 2002. |
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* ''Het dolpension van de hemel. Dunya Poëzieprijs 2002. Bekroonde gedichten en ander werk van de prijswinnaars. Martijn Benders [e.a.].'' Bèta Imaginations/Stichting Dunya, Rotterdam 2003. (Dromologya 12.) |
* ''Het dolpension van de hemel. Dunya Poëzieprijs 2002. Bekroonde gedichten en ander werk van de prijswinnaars. Martijn Benders [e.a.].'' Bèta Imaginations/Stichting Dunya, Rotterdam 2003. (Dromologya 12.) |
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* ''Septentrion'', 33 (2004), no. 1, 1er trimestre. (introduction and texts) |
* ''Septentrion'', 33 (2004), no. 1, 1er trimestre. (introduction and texts) |
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* ''Literatuur & maatschappij.'' [Special issue of] ''Oso, tijdschrift voor Surinamistiek'', 23 (2004), nr. 1, mei. (ed. with Peter Meel) |
* ''Literatuur & maatschappij.'' [Special issue of] ''Oso, tijdschrift voor Surinamistiek'', 23 (2004), nr. 1, mei. (ed. with Peter Meel) |
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* ''Noordoostpassanten; 400 jaar Nederlandse verhaalkunst over Suriname, de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba''. Samengesteld, ingeleid en van aantekeningen voorzien door Michiel van Kempen en Wim Rutgers. Contact, Amsterdam 2005. |
* ''Noordoostpassanten; 400 jaar Nederlandse verhaalkunst over Suriname, de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba''. Samengesteld, ingeleid en van aantekeningen voorzien door Michiel van Kempen en Wim Rutgers. Contact, Amsterdam 2005. |
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* ''Shrinivási 80 Jubileumbundel.'' Ed. by Michiel van Kempen & Effendi N. Ketwaru. Paramaribo 2006. |
* ''[[Shrinivási]] 80 Jubileumbundel.'' Ed. by Michiel van Kempen & Effendi N. Ketwaru. Paramaribo 2006. |
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* ''Voor mij ben je hier; verhalen van de jongste generatie Surinaamse schrijvers.'' Meulenhoff, Amsterdam 2010. |
* ''Voor mij ben je hier; verhalen van de jongste generatie Surinaamse schrijvers.'' Meulenhoff, Amsterdam 2010. |
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* [[Bernardo Ashetu]], ''Dat ik je liefheb; gedichten''. In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 2011. |
* [[Bernardo Ashetu]], ''Dat ik je liefheb; gedichten''. In de Knipscheer, Haarlem 2011. |
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{{Commons category|Michiel van Kempen}} |
{{Commons category|Michiel van Kempen}} |
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* [http://www.dbnl.org/auteurs/auteur.php?id=kemp009 Van Kempen in the Digitale Bibliotheek Nederlandse Letteren] (Dutch) |
* [http://www.dbnl.org/auteurs/auteur.php?id=kemp009 Van Kempen in the Digitale Bibliotheek Nederlandse Letteren] (Dutch) |
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*[http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/m.h.g.vankempen/ Website University of Amsterdam] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070224131401/http://home.medewerker.uva.nl/m.h.g.vankempen/ Website University of Amsterdam] |
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* [http://kolonialeletteren.itor.org/nl/pilot_portal_koloniale_letteren/ Portal Koloniale Letteren] (Dutch) |
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041211232419/http://kolonialeletteren.itor.org/nl/pilot_portal_koloniale_letteren/ Portal Koloniale Letteren] (Dutch) |
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*[http://www.hum.uva.nl/actueel/object.cfm/objectid% |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070226220125/http://www.hum.uva.nl/actueel/object.cfm/objectid%3D4B29DD76-4139-4942-B21AD2FD253E2DAD/templateid%3D27E27648-F8B8-4BDB-B4EBC0EC61DDAAA2 On his nomination as a professor in Amsterdam] (Dutch) |
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*[http://www.literatuurplein.nl/site/nieuwsdetail.jsp?nieuwsId=1350 Van Kempen on Literatuurplein, with interview] |
*[http://www.literatuurplein.nl/site/nieuwsdetail.jsp?nieuwsId=1350 Van Kempen on Literatuurplein, with interview] |
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*[http://www.hum.uva.nl/actueel/object.cfm/objectid=32CE98A3-4BEE-46B7-A7D1AC8A072861B0/templateid=27E27648-F8B8-4BDB-B4EBC0EC61DDAAA2 On his knighting] |
*[http://www.hum.uva.nl/actueel/object.cfm/objectid=32CE98A3-4BEE-46B7-A7D1AC8A072861B0/templateid=27E27648-F8B8-4BDB-B4EBC0EC61DDAAA2 On his knighting]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |
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{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> |
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| NAME = Kempen, Michiel Van |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = April 4, 1957 |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kempen, Michiel Van}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kempen, Michiel Van}} |
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[[Category:1957 births]] |
[[Category:1957 births]] |
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[[Category:Living people]] |
[[Category:Living people]] |
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[[Category:Dutch novelists]] |
[[Category:20th-century Dutch novelists]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Dutch male writers]] |
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[[Category:20th-century Dutch dramatists and playwrights]] |
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[[Category:Dutch screenwriters]] |
[[Category:Dutch screenwriters]] |
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[[Category:Dutch male screenwriters]] |
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[[Category:Dutch essayists]] |
[[Category:Dutch essayists]] |
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[[Category:Dutch art historians]] |
[[Category:Dutch art historians]] |
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[[Category:Dutch literary critics]] |
[[Category:Dutch literary critics]] |
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[[Category:Dutch travel writers]] |
[[Category:Dutch travel writers]] |
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[[Category:People from Oirschot]] |
[[Category:People from Oirschot]] |
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[[Category:Honorary Order of the Yellow Star]] |
[[Category:Honorary Order of the Yellow Star]] |
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[[Category:Dutch male dramatists and playwrights]] |
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[[Category:Dutch male essayists]] |
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[[Category:20th-century essayists]] |
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[[hu:Michiel van Kempen]] |
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[[nl:Michiel van Kempen]] |
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Michiel van Kempen
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Michiel van Kempen
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| Born | Michaël Henricus Gertrudis van Kempen (1957-04-04) 4 April 1957 (age 67) Oirschot, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Writer, art historian and literary critic |
| Language | Dutch |
| Years active | 2003–present |
Michaël Henricus Gertrudis (Michiel) van Kempen (born 4 April 1957) is a Dutch writer, art historian and literary critic. He has written novels, short stories, essays, travel literature and scenarios. He was the compiler of a huge range of anthologies of Dutch-Caribbean literature (Suriname, Netherlands Antilles) and wrote an extensive history of the literature of Suriname, in two volumes.[1][2]
Van Kempen was born in Oirschot. After attending high schoolinEindhoven, he studied Dutch at the University of Nijmegen; on 5 June 2002 he got his Ph.D. at the University of Amsterdam with the five volumed Een geschiedenis van de Surinaamse literatuur (A History of Surinamese Literature), published in two volumes in 2003. In 1400 pages it tells the history of oral and written literatures of Suriname.
For some years Van Kempen was taught Dutch in Nijmegen (1980–1982) and Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname (1983–1987). In Suriname he also worked as a teacher in literary criticism and creative writing at the Academie voor Hoger Kunst- en Cultuuronderwijs, as well as coordinator of the Literature Section of the Ministry of Education and Culture.
From 1991 through 1995, he was coordinating the Suriname-project of the University Library of Amsterdam (resulting in the Suriname-catalogue, containing some 8000 entries) and from 1994 thru 1998 as a scientific researcher at the University of Amsterdam. As a lecturer and visiting professor, he taught at universities around the world. As an advisor, he worked for festivals, publishing houses and research fundings.
From 1 September 2006, Van Kempen is a professor by special nomination in Dutch West-Indian literature at the University of Amsterdam.
Michiel van Kempen was or is editor of several magazines, including Uit de Kunst, Tegenspraak and Oso (magazine for Surinamese studies). He made special issues for the literary magazines Deus ex Machina (1987), Preludium (1988), De Gids (1990) en Armada (1999). In 1986, he founded the weekly Literary Pages of De Ware Tijd, the largest newspaper of Suriname. Articles by his hand appeared in many literary magazines. His newspaper reviews were collected in De geest van Waraku (1993; The spirit of Waraku). Van Kempen was co-editor of two collections of scientific essays: Tussenfiguren (1988, Writers in between) en Wandelaar onder de palmen (2004, Walker under the palm trees).
With photographer Michel Szulc-Krzyzanowski Van Kempen published two photobooks: Woorden die diep wortelen (1992; also published in English as Deep-rooted words) on writers and storytellers in Suriname, and Woorden op de westenwind (1994; Words on the West Wind) on Surinamese writers outside their homeland. Six essays on Albert Helman were published in Kijk vreesloos in de spiegel (1998, Look fearless in the mirror). His extensive history of Surinamese literature was preceded by some other studies: De Surinaamse literatuur 1970-1985 (1987, Surinamese literature 1970-1985) and the popular Surinaamse schrijvers en dichters (1989, Surinames writes and poets). Major anthologies like Spiegel van de Surinaamse poëzie (1985, Mirror of the Surinamese poetry), Mama Sranan; 200 jaar Surinaamse verhaalkunst (1999, Mama Suriname, 200 years Surinamese narrative) en Noordoostpassanten; 400 jaar Nederlandse verhaalkunst over Suriname, de Nederlandse Antillen en Aruba (2005, North-east passers-by; 400 years narrative on Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba) have greatly contributed to the knowledge of Dutch-Caribbean culture.
For his merits to Surinamese literary life Van Kempen was awarded in 1987, de Rahmān Khān-prize. In 2004, he was awarded the Flemish/Dutch ANV-Visser Neerlandia-prize. He was knighted twice: in 2005, in Suriname as Officer of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star and in 2007, in the Netherlands as Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau. In 2009, he was awarded the Gaanman Gazon Matodja Award, the highest Maroons award.[3]
Van Kempen's literary work comprises two novels, several collections of short stories and two children’s books. His narratives show how people of different cultural origins are being confronted with the impossibility of essentially getting in touch with the other. In the novel Plantage Lankmoedigheid (1997; Plantation Indulgence) this problem is thematized in a Surinamese setting in the years of the “revolution” and repression following the coup of 1980. Several of the short stories of Landmeten (1992, Land surveying) do have the same décor. The novel Vluchtwegen [nl] (2006, Escape routes) depicts the story of the immigrants quarter BijlmermeerofAmsterdam. In the title story of Pakistaanse nacht en andere verhalen (2002, Pakistan night and other stories) a European couple on a journey through Pakistan sees itself confronted with a retired army colonel, who seems to keep up a hidden agenda. Het Nirwana is een lege trein (1990, The Nirwana is an empty train) is a collection of travel stories on India.
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