100 Dutch-Language Poems: From the Medieval Period to the Present Day

Poetry. Translated from the Dutch by Paul Vincent and John Irons. 100 DUTCH-LANGUAGE POEMS is a lovely selection of poems written in the Dutch language from the 11th century to the present day. For the poetry lover it is a comprehensive introduction to poetry from the Low Countries and provides a wonderful insight into the themes and issues that influenced generations of poets. The Dutch language and English translations are presented side by side making it a great resource for literature and language students and scholars. A detailed foreword by Paul Vincent and John Irons who selected and translated the poems, as well as an intriguing afterword by Gaston Franssen, assistant professor of Literary Culture at the University of Amsterdam, add additional value to this necessary anthology.

PAUL VINCENT

Paul received a BA (Hons) Modern Languages (German, Dutch, French) from University of Cambridge, UK in 1964. He undertook Postgraduate study at the University of Amsterdam during 1965-1966. He was awarded an MA from University of Cambridge in 1968.

From 1967 to 1989 he was a full time Lecturer and Senior Lecturer in Dutch Language and Literature at Bedford College, University of London, and afterwards at University College London. He left his academic career in 1989 to become a freelance translator of Dutch and German into English.

He has translated many of the leading authors and poets from the Low Countries including Louis Couperus, Harry Mulisch, Willem Elsschot, Louis Paul Boon and Hugo Claus.

He was the recipient of the first David Reid Poetry Translation Prize for the translation of Hendrik Marsman's famous poem 'Herinnering aan Holland' (Memory of Holland) in 2006, awarded by the Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature.

In 2012 Paul Vincent received the Vondel Prize for My Little War, his translation of Mijn kleine oorlog by Louis Paul Boon, published by Dalkey Archive.

Paul Vincent is based in London.

JOHN IRONS

John Irons studied Modern & Medieval Languages (German, French, & Dutch) at Cambridge University and completed his PhD, The Development of Imagery in the Poetry of PC Boutens, at the same university.

He worked as a senior lecturer at Odense University in Denmark. He has been a professional translator, from Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, German and French to English, since 1987. He was awarded the NORLA translation prize for non-fiction in 2007.

John Irons has worked on a long and distinguished list of publications and he has been a translator for Poetry International Rotterdam since 1996. He has translated several of the leading authors and poets from the Low Countries including anthologies of Dutch-language poets Hugo Claus and Gerrit Komrij.

John Irons lives in Odense, Denmark.

http://johnirons.blogspot.co.uk/