Harry Mulisch (born July 29, 1927) is a Dutch author. Along with W.F. Hermans and Gerard Reve, he is considered one of the "Great Three" of Dutch postwar literature. He has written novels, plays, essays, poems, and philosophical reflections.

Biography

Mulisch was born in Haarlem and has been living in Amsterdam for many years.

Themes in his work

A frequent theme in his work is the Second World War. Additionally, Mulisch often incorporates ancient legends or myths in his writings, drawing in Greek mythology (e.g. in De Elementen), Jewish mysticism (in De ontdekking van de Hemel and De Procedure), and well-known urban legends. He is widely read, and (according to his critics) often appears to flaunt his knowledge.

Mulisch gained international recognition with the film De Aanslag, (1986) which was based on his eponymous book. It received an Oscar for best foreign movie and has been translated in more than twenty languages.

His novel De ontdekking van de Hemel (1992) was filmed in 2001 as The Discovery of Heaven by Jeroen Krabbé, starring Stephen Fry.

Bibliography

• Archibald Strohalm (1952; novel)
• Tussen hamer en aambeeld ("Between hammer and anvil", 1952; novella)
• Chantage op het leven ("Blackmail on life", 1953; short story)
• De Diamant ("The Diamond", 1954; novel)
• De Sprong der Paarden en de Zoete Zee ("The Jump of Horses and the Sweet Sea", 1955; novel)
• Het mirakel ("The miracle", 1955; short stories)
• Het Zwarte licht ("The Black Light", 1957; novel)
• Manifesten ("Manifestos", 1958; essays)
• Het Stenen Bruidsbed ("The Stone Bridal Bed", (1959; novel)
• Tanchelijn (1960; play)
• De knop ("The button", 1961; play)
• Voer voor Psychologen ("Food for psychologists", 1961; autobiography)
• De Zaak 40/61 ("Case 40/61", 1962; report on the Eichmann trial)'
• Wenken voor de bescherming van uw gezin en uzelf, tijdens de Jongste Dag ("Winking for the protection of your family and yourself, during the Youngest Day"), 1961; essays)
• Bericht aan de Rattenkoning ("Message to the Rats' King", 1966; essay on the students' revolts in Amsterdam in the 1960s)
• Wenken voor de Jongste Dag ("Winking for the Youngest Day", 1967; essays)
• Het woord bij de daad ("The word added to the deed", 1968; essays)
• Reconstructie ("Reconstruction", 1969; essays)
• Paralipomena Orphica ("Paralipomena Orphica", 1970; essays)
• De Verteller ("The Narrator", 1970; novel)
• De Verteller verteld: Kommentaar, Katalogus, Kuriosa en een Katastrofestuk ("The Narrator being told: Comments, Catalogue, Curiosities and a Piece of Catastrophe, 1971; essay on The Narrator)
• De toekomst van gisteren ("Yesterday's future", 1972; essay on a book the author cannot write)
• Oidipous Oidipous (1972; play)
• Woorden, woorden, woorden ("Words, words, words", 1973; poetry)
• De vogels ("The Birds", 1974; poetry)
• Mijn Getijdenboek ("The book of my tidings") (1975; autobiography)
• Tegenlicht (1975; poetry)
• Kind en Kraai (1975; poetry)
• Twee Vrouwen ("Two Women", 1975; novel)
• Oude Lucht (1977; stories)
• Opus Gran (1982; poetry)
• De Aanslag (The Assault , 1982; novel); see above.
• De Kamer (1984; stories)
• Hoogste Tijd ("Last Call", 1985; novel);
• De Pupil ("The Pupil", 1987; novel)
• De Elementen ("The Elements", 1988; novel)
• De Ontdekking van de Hemel (The Discovery of Heaven, 1992; novel); see above.
• De Procedure ("The Procedure", 1999; novel)
• Het Theater, de brief en de waarheid ("The Theatre, the Letter and the Truth", 2000; novel); Dutch Book Week Present.
• Siegfried (2001; novel)

External link

• Harry Mulisch - Official Website (Dutch)