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Heden ik, morgen gij
331 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1936
About the author
Hendrik Marsman
29 books18 followersHendrik Marsman was a Dutch poet and writer.
The collection Verzen (1923; “Verses”) expresses an antihumanist, anti-intellectual rebelliousness, which the poet called “vitalism.” As editor of the periodical De Vrije bladen (“The Free Press”), he became in 1925 the foremost critic of the younger generation. His next collection of verse appeared in 1927 with the English title Paradise Regained and was greeted as a major artistic achievement. Another cycle, Porta Nigra, dominated by the idea of death, appeared in 1934. His last book of verse, Tempel en kruis (1940; “Temple and Cross”), an autobiographical account of the poet’s development, reaffirms humanistic ideals.
After obtaining a Portuguese visa in Bordeaux, France, on June 18, 1940 from the Consul-General Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Marsman boarded a ship bound for England. Tragically, he drowned three days later when the ship sunk after an explosion in the English Channel. His wife survived as the only passenger.
His poetry is vitalistic and expressionistic, and (fear of) death, as a metaphor for defeat in life, is a recurring theme. His "Herinnering aan Holland" (Remembrance of Holland): "Denkend aan Holland zie ik breede rivieren traag door oneindig laagland gaan," Thinking about Holland, I see broad rivers slowly moving through endless lowlands. In 2000, the Dutch people chose this as the "Dutch Poem of the Century."
The collection Verzen (1923; “Verses”) expresses an antihumanist, anti-intellectual rebelliousness, which the poet called “vitalism.” As editor of the periodical De Vrije bladen (“The Free Press”), he became in 1925 the foremost critic of the younger generation. His next collection of verse appeared in 1927 with the English title Paradise Regained and was greeted as a major artistic achievement. Another cycle, Porta Nigra, dominated by the idea of death, appeared in 1934. His last book of verse, Tempel en kruis (1940; “Temple and Cross”), an autobiographical account of the poet’s development, reaffirms humanistic ideals.
After obtaining a Portuguese visa in Bordeaux, France, on June 18, 1940 from the Consul-General Aristides de Sousa Mendes, Marsman boarded a ship bound for England. Tragically, he drowned three days later when the ship sunk after an explosion in the English Channel. His wife survived as the only passenger.
His poetry is vitalistic and expressionistic, and (fear of) death, as a metaphor for defeat in life, is a recurring theme. His "Herinnering aan Holland" (Remembrance of Holland): "Denkend aan Holland zie ik breede rivieren traag door oneindig laagland gaan," Thinking about Holland, I see broad rivers slowly moving through endless lowlands. In 2000, the Dutch people chose this as the "Dutch Poem of the Century."
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October 6, 2025Gekregen van een boekhandelaar die het mij aanbeval. Het betreft een roman in brieven. Marsman (in vorm van een gefictionaliseerd karakter) begint met het schrijven aan Vestdijk en vanaf dan is het om beurten. Marsman lijkt het verhaal te willen sturen, maar Vestdijk gaat daar vaak niet op in. Soms ook wel.
De correspondentieroman bevat veel psychologie van de koude grond. De specifieke beschrijvingen van plaatsen en personen zijn de moeite soms waard, maar de verhaallijn vond ik verwarrend en deed mij niets. Van Vestdijk had ik genoeg gelezen om met zijn stijl bekend te zijn en derhalve het lukte mij simpelweg niet iemand anders bij zijn brieven voor te stellen dan Vestdijk zelf. Voor Marsman geldt in feite hetzelfde.
De correspondentieroman bevat veel psychologie van de koude grond. De specifieke beschrijvingen van plaatsen en personen zijn de moeite soms waard, maar de verhaallijn vond ik verwarrend en deed mij niets. Van Vestdijk had ik genoeg gelezen om met zijn stijl bekend te zijn en derhalve het lukte mij simpelweg niet iemand anders bij zijn brieven voor te stellen dan Vestdijk zelf. Voor Marsman geldt in feite hetzelfde.
January 26, 2021
De psychologiserende brieven van mannen over zichzelf en vrouwen zijn niet echt meer verteerbaar.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews