Son of a wealthy art connoisseur and -dealer, Adama van Scheltema studied medicine for two years before dropping out to pursue his artistic interests. He worked for the Dutch Drama Society and in an art gallery before his father died in 1899, leaving him financially independent. Allowed to concentrate upon literature, Adama van Scheltema started writing poetry and abandoned the naturalist prose which had until then been his main affection. In 1900, he published his first collection of poems, "Een weg van verzen" (A road of poems).[1]
For Adama van Scheltema, socialism and nature were prominent sources of inspiration. He developed his thoughts into his 1907 book, "De grondslagen eener nieuwe poëzie" (The Fundaments of a New Poetry). This book marked a decisive break with the Tachtigers (The 80's Movement), whose mentality of l'art pour l'art had been very influential in the Netherlands. Adama van Scheltema instead asserted that art should have a social function and be available to the masses.[1]
When working on this book, Adama van Scheltema hired Anna Catharina Kleefstra as a secretary. They soon fell in love and were married on 24 October 1907. The marriage, while childless, was happy, and the couple moved between different European cities before settling down in the small Dutch town of Bergen, North Holland. There Adama van Scheltema, a melancholic as well as a nature-lover, was able to find peace of mind.[2]
World War One, however, triggered an emotional crisis, and Adama van Scheltema's poetry took on a darker, religious undertone. This development reached its apogee in the epical poem "De Tors" (The Torso), which was published in its entirety after the author's sudden death in 1924.[3]
^Tineke Steenmeijer-Wielenga [in Western Frisian]; Ger Harmsen [in Dutch] (2005) [1995]. "Adama van Scheltema, Carel Steven". Biographical Dictionary of Socialism and the Workers' Movement in the Netherlands (BWSA), 6. Collectie C.S. Adama van Scheltema, Nederlands Letterkundig Museum en Documentatiecentrum (Den Haag), Biografisch Portaal. pp. 1–4.
^G.J. van Bork and P.J. Verkruijsse (1985). "Adama van Scheltema, Carel Steven". De Nederlandse en Vlaamse Auteurs. Digital Library for Dutch Literature. Retrieved October 24, 2017.
Works by or about Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema at Internet Archive
Works by Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema at LibriVox (public domain audiobooks)
January 01, 1970
carel, steven, adama, scheltema, amsterdam, february, 1877, bergen, 1924, dutch, socialist, poet, adama, scheltema, carel, stevenborn, 1877, february, 1877amsterdamdied6, 1924, 1924, aged, bergen, north, hollandoccupationpoetlanguagedutchnationalitydutchspouse. Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema Amsterdam 26 February 1877 Bergen 6 May 1924 was a Dutch socialist poet Adama van Scheltema Carel StevenBorn 1877 02 26 26 February 1877AmsterdamDied6 May 1924 1924 05 06 aged 47 Bergen North HollandOccupationPoetLanguageDutchNationalityDutchSpouseKleefstra Anna Catharina Son of a wealthy art connoisseur and dealer Adama van Scheltema studied medicine for two years before dropping out to pursue his artistic interests He worked for the Dutch Drama Society and in an art gallery before his father died in 1899 leaving him financially independent Allowed to concentrate upon literature Adama van Scheltema started writing poetry and abandoned the naturalist prose which had until then been his main affection In 1900 he published his first collection of poems Een weg van verzen A road of poems 1 For Adama van Scheltema socialism and nature were prominent sources of inspiration He developed his thoughts into his 1907 book De grondslagen eener nieuwe poezie The Fundaments of a New Poetry This book marked a decisive break with the Tachtigers The 80 s Movement whose mentality of l art pour l art had been very influential in the Netherlands Adama van Scheltema instead asserted that art should have a social function and be available to the masses 1 When working on this book Adama van Scheltema hired Anna Catharina Kleefstra as a secretary They soon fell in love and were married on 24 October 1907 The marriage while childless was happy and the couple moved between different European cities before settling down in the small Dutch town of Bergen North Holland There Adama van Scheltema a melancholic as well as a nature lover was able to find peace of mind 2 World War One however triggered an emotional crisis and Adama van Scheltema s poetry took on a darker religious undertone This development reached its apogee in the epical poem De Tors The Torso which was published in its entirety after the author s sudden death in 1924 3 References edit a b M C A van der Heijden 2013 Adama van Scheltema Carel Steven 1877 1924 Biografisch Woordenboek van Nederland Huygens ING Den Haag Tineke Steenmeijer Wielenga in Western Frisian Ger Harmsen in Dutch 2005 1995 Adama van Scheltema Carel Steven Biographical Dictionary of Socialism and the Workers Movement in the Netherlands BWSA 6 Collectie C S Adama van Scheltema Nederlands Letterkundig Museum en Documentatiecentrum Den Haag Biografisch Portaal pp 1 4 G J van Bork and P J Verkruijsse 1985 Adama van Scheltema Carel Steven De Nederlandse en Vlaamse Auteurs Digital Library for Dutch Literature Retrieved October 24 2017 External links editWorks by Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema at Project Gutenberg Works by or about Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema at Internet Archive Works by Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema at LibriVox public domain audiobooks nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Carel Steven Adama van Scheltema amp oldid 1187765983, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
