Wouter Godijn
(Amsterdam, NL 1955) is recipient of the Jan Campert Award 2012 for his book of poetry Hoe H.H. de wereld redde (How H.H. Saved the World). Godijn writes about being ill, dying, and about the power of poetry. Often heavy subjects, but Godijn can be irrepressibly funny. Sometimes it is pure slapstick, sometimes political parable. Wouter Godijn made his debut in 1997 with a novel Witte tongen (White Tongues), but discovered that his potential was first and foremost in poetry. In 2000 he published his first book of poetry, Alle kinderen zijn van glas (All Children Are Made of Glass). In his entire oeuvre what is striking is particularly the contrast between the banal and the exalted. Godijn received nationwide renown when popular Dutch poets Gerrit Komrij and Neeltje Maria Min chose his second anthology, Langzame Nederlaag (Slow Defeat), as their first ever choice of the Dutch Poetry Club. His third anthology De karpers en de krab (The Carps and the Crab)was nominated for the prestigious Dutch poetry award VSB Poëzieprijs. Meanwhile Godijn has published three novels and seven books of poetry.
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Writers' Fest 2013
With: Bart Moeyaert, Denise Jannah, Ellen Deckwitz, Guus Janssen, Jaap Cohen, Joke van Leeuwen, Lucas Hüsgen, Marja Pruis, Nico Dijkshoorn, Pieter Steinz, Roland Colastica, Ronald Giphart, Stephan Enter, Wouter Godijn
The festival closes with a Writers' Fest in the Koninklijke Schouwburg. A programme around Dutch literature, with performances by among others Joke van Leeuwen, Nico Dijkshoorn, Ronald Giphart, Bart Moeyaert, jazz singer Denise Jannah and pianist and composer Guus Janssen.
What is the state of affairs in Dutch letters? At the beginning of the year we take stock. Writer and critic Marja Pruis gives her vision on how Dutch literature fares. With music and readings we honour three great writers and poets who passed away in 2012. Queen of jazz and singer Denise Jannah, accompanied by guitarist Robby Alberga, sings a poem by Gerrit Komrij, Holland's foremost poet and promotor of Dutch poets and poetry. Composer and pianist Guus Janssen honours the prolific Dutch writer Bernlef with a composition for voice and piano. And we'll listen to a recording of poet Rutger Kopland, the grand old man of Dutch poetry. Curaçaoan writer and actor Roland Colastica, who made his debut last year with the children's novel Vuurwerk in mijn hoofd (Fireworks in my Head), tells us a story about his mother tongue, Papiamento, how as a child he got to know Dutch literature, on the importance of reading and telling stories.Presentation of the The Hague literary prizes
Four writers are awarded with a prize today: Stephan Enter is recipient of the F. Bordewijk Prize for his novel Grip, Wouter Godijn receives the Jan Campert Prize for his book of poetry Hoe H.H. de wereld redde (How H.H. Saved the World), and Lucas Hüsgen receives the J. Greshoff Prize for contemplative prose for his book Nazi te Venlo (Nazi in Venlo). Multitalent Joke van Leeuwen is recipient of the Constantijn Huygens Prize for her entire oeuvre. The afternoon closes with her theatrical word of thanks: a unique performance by Van Leeuwen, this writer, poet, illustrator and comedian. In cooperation with the Nederlands Letterenfonds, Stichting Lezen and the Jan Campert Stichting. The prizes are given by the alderman for culture of The Hague, Marjolein de Jong.