2007/02/14 Wroclaw
A new canon
Pod Gryfami
Last night the Dutch embassy in Poland organized a dinner in this city on the occasion of “my working visit” to Wroclaw, as the embassy described it.
The food at Restauracja Pod Gryfami was Polish but not completely unsophisticated and quite a few of the dinner guests were working at the department of Dutch at the University of Wroclaw.
Even before the coffee (for some reasons a dessert was not available) the discussion was headed for Turkish Delight, the novel by Jan Wolkers, and of course: dirty words.
According to the head of the department of Dutch at the University of Wroclaw there were three good Dutch authors: PC Hooft, Simon Carmiggelt and Herman van Veen.
For those of you not too familiar with Dutch literature this list can be compared to let’s say the statement that German literature consists of: Büchner, Franz Werfel and Reinhard Mey. (Other and better comparisons are welcome but will not necessarily be rewarded with cheese fondue.)
I do think that Büchner is more interesting than PC Hooft, but okay.
At the end of the evening one of the other professors at the department of Dutch whispered in my ear: “And not too many dirty words, when you write your play.�?
He looked like a priest – actually I believe he was a priest.
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26 comments 
It was explained to me, that in Poland, one of the necessities to have and hold a job nowadays is to show up in church on sunday. A translators I work with told me he isn’t religious at all but still has to go to church. Preferably one frequented by people he works for of course.
Herman Van Veen? Although he has some merit, I do prefer Herman Brood then…
The professor had to be a priest, a lot of priests never stop thinking about dirty words. It would not surprise me if he contacts you discreetly for a private play full of dirty brown words.
Finally, by the way, I wonder why we leave religion and cult to the illiterate and the charlatans. I am not advocating ‘L’imagination au pouvoir’ but why not impose some intelligence in the imaginary world too? I like to refer to Karen Armstrong for the latter.
The professor had to be a priest, a lot of priests never stop thinking about dirty words. It would not surprise me if he contacts you discreetly for a private play full of dirty brown words.
Finally, by the way, I wonder why we leave religion and cult to the illiterate and the charlatans. I am not advocating ‘L’imagination au pouvoir’ but why not impose some intelligence in the imaginary world too? I like to refer to Karen Armstrong for the latter.
I thought I saw Herman van Veen yesterday. But it wasn't him. I used to think Boudewijn de Groot lived near me in a boot on a canal. But it wasn't him.
I used to think priests were lonely. But they aren't.
In De Morgen was an article about the genius of H. Brusselmans' 'De man die werk vond'. I felt understood, for years now I'm trying to get this book read by others.
I used to think priests were lonely. But they aren't.
In De Morgen was an article about the genius of H. Brusselmans' 'De man die werk vond'. I felt understood, for years now I'm trying to get this book read by others.
the blood of god
Well then you're lucky you're not in Amsterdam these days. I was at a dinner yesterday with old friends and 50% of them had voted the Christian Party (for insiders: CU en niet CDA). I thought they were actually pulling some kind of joke on me to see whether I'd go psychotic and I'd start thinking I was insane. These filmmaking, writer friends of mine were perfectly serious. So, I jumped on the table, stripped, poured wine over myself and asked them whether they would like to lick the blood of Christ. And I proposed a toast :to Ian Buruma (for being so spot on) and the spirit of T. van Gogh (may he rest in peace). Arnon: for chrissake use as many dirty words you can think of, and lots of euthanasia and abortion and drugs and adultery and bombing of institutions. Please.Tess and stripping
Tess: Please do not jump on the table at the cheese fondue dinner in Montreux. And don’t start stripping out of the blue. A decent woman should only strip in public for decent money. The same can be said about a decent man.I didn’t get your Ian Buruma-remark, but don’t explain before we meet in Montreux. We should save this item for our table talk.
Sin
It wasn't in public. And I won't be in Montreaux (I wasn't one of the winners). I didn't participate in your contest for the same eason I found it necessary to jump on the table. "John Owen’s three classic works on sin and temptation are profoundly helpful to any believer who seeks to become more like Jesus Christ. "solution
Everything seems to be solved, Tess. You keep jumping on tables and you won’t come to Montreux for cheese fondue. (Excuse me for thinking you were one of the winners of the contest.)Somehow, I'm not quite sure everything seems to be solved. I guess this is the deal: as I'm not an intellectual I become a pressure cooker and emotions need to find other ways to escape. No more jumping on tables for a while. And back to reality: I am the contest loser.
As the dinner party guest who made the remark about dirty words, which you so freely quote on your blog, I find it highly offensive to be described as a priest. Though you might not have noticed, Mr. Grunberg, I'm a convinced atheist. I believe priests should be chemically castrated. All of them. It's the only humane solution to child molesting. Priests brainwash people into believing in the existence of "god" - a fictitious character, a bogeyman to scare children with. So I demand that you remove the words describing me as a priest from your website. Have you ever heard of "portretrecht", Mr. Grunberg? If this blog is "mimetic", then let it be so. Realistic? Literature should be rational. It should be a reflection of reality. It should avoid the excesses of "imagination", which is just as harmful as religion. All this I'm sure you agree with. But as an author you have no right to deform the characterization of the people you describe. If you don't remove the quote (or claim that what you've written is "fiction" or "poetic license"), you'll hear from my lawyers within a not -so-distant period of time.
I don't think mister Grunberg did something against the law.
I agree with Mr. van Beelen
I do not grasp his point, is the man offended by being called ‘maybe a priest’? I was called by many names in my life, by the way.
Wratislaviensis, means the man from Wratislava, I think ?
I do not grasp his point, is the man offended by being called ‘maybe a priest’? I was called by many names in my life, by the way.
Wratislaviensis, means the man from Wratislava, I think ?
A quick reaction
Mr. Neerlandicus Wratislaviensis:Your statement that priests should be chemically castrated is highly offensive to me. Some of my best friends are priests. Besides that I believe that to castrate somebody CHEMICALLY is medically spoken totally irresponsible.
Nobody should be castrated chemically. If a man wishes to lose his penis in order to become a woman the safest way is a sterile knife.
Your remarks don’t do justice to the wonderful University of Wroclaw and its Department of Dutch.
This is a boratian discussion.
Funny, Herman van Veen is such a pervert in real life. A close friend of my parents used to play the violin during his shows. She said to me he was always harrasing her and all the other female musicians.
pervert
Tina, it's very well possible to be a pervert (whatever that means) and to be a great artist at the same time.We should not discard Mr. van Veen's works because of rumors (proabably true) that he harassed women. I consider him a minor poet, even though he sang Leonard Cohen in Dutch translation, but this is not connected to any judgement about his behaviour in private life.
Karl Marx was attacked because he had an affair with a maid.
We are entitled to our perversions, even a minor poet as Mr. Herman van Veen. And this doens't mean that I try to justify harassment.
I know a few perverts who would not even dare to harass a rabbit.
There is such a thing as the ethical pervert.
La Pianiste, Adaptation, Happiness, Volver, Safe, and so on and so forth. I would say: perversity is the one common denominator of mankind.
I didn't mean to say you can't be a good poet, while being a pervert. James Brown for example was a terrible man, but a very good musician.
I only thought it was remarcable that the priest liked Herman Van Veen, but I read it wrong it was the head of
I only thought it was remarcable that the priest liked Herman Van Veen, but I read it wrong it was the head of
* remarkable *the department who liked Herman Van Veen.
Hm... I'm making to many mistakes these days...
Hm... I'm making to many mistakes these days...
It seems as if the only two groups who have a tendency to see a befitting punishment in chemical castration are either nazi's or priests. It's rather slim pickings I concede but I guess Mr Grunerg did, beforehand, choset he less insulting one. A word of thanks is in order, I say, Mr Neerlandicus.
Incidentally, has your lawyer any relevant experiences with chemical castration? Perhaps In the courtroom or elsewhere?
Incidentally, has your lawyer any relevant experiences with chemical castration? Perhaps In the courtroom or elsewhere?
It seems as if the only two groups who have a tendency to see a befitting punishment in chemical castration are either nazi's or priests. It's rather slim pickings I concede but I guess Mr Grunerg did, beforehand, chose the less insulting one. A word of thanks is in order, I think.
Incidentally, does your lawyer have any experience with chemical castration? Perhaps in the courtroom or elsewhere?
Incidentally, does your lawyer have any experience with chemical castration? Perhaps in the courtroom or elsewhere?
tina & tess
Tina, perverts will be discussed in Montreux.Tess, if perversity is the common denominator of mankind I don't want to be called a pervert anymore. Besides that: your argument is not very convincing.
Maybey it's an idea for all people who are going to make it to Montreux in 2008 to bring two invitees: a pervert and a completely sane person, maybe even a virgin.
(The invitees should pay for their own wine, even my budget is limited.)
To Arnon: so who called you a pervert?
Perverts
Tess:Having to choose between being a neurotic person and a pervert I chose the pervert.
But well, we know that it is the classic fantasy of the neurotic person to be a pervert.
I’m still not sure if I’m really a pervert or if it is just a case of self-aggrandizement.
Topping the list of sexy virtues (no Viagra needed):
1. Talent
2. Self-depreciation (= all people claiming to suffer from self-aggrandizement)
(3. Okay and Power) .
So Arnon - according to my list you can get away with as much neuroticism and perversity as you like; people will still be attracted to you.
1. Talent
2. Self-depreciation (= all people claiming to suffer from self-aggrandizement)
(3. Okay and Power) .
So Arnon - according to my list you can get away with as much neuroticism and perversity as you like; people will still be attracted to you.
Ah, I knew there was a funny smell about Herman Van Veen. Now I m convinced why I have more sympathy for the so called perverts like Herman Brood or M. Houellebecq (ok for the difference in quality), who simply ask, beg or pay for IT.
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