Turks fruit, a 1969 novel by Jan Wolkers, sold in ten languages and secured its place in culture through a 1972 film adaptation. Regarded as one of the Great Four writers in post-World War II Dutch literature, Wolkers maintained a multifaceted career that spanned literature, painting, and large-scale sculpture across the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Literary output and controversies
Wolkers gained significant attention during the 1960s for his writing, which often featured candid depictions of sexual acts that provoked public debate. His bibliography includes diverse formats, from novels like Crew Cut and A rose of flesh to short stories and essays such as Tarzan in Arles. In 2005, he contributed to the national literary landscape with the book-week gift Summer heat. Several of his works were adapted for the screen, including projects directed by Paul Verhoeven, Theo van Gogh, and Monique van de Ven.
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Beyond the page, Wolkers worked as a sculptor, creating outdoor monuments such as the Watersnoodmonument Kruiningen and the Vredesmonument. His preference for using glass in public art led to recurring instances of vandalism. Following the destruction of a monument in 2003, he shifted his focus toward integrating more steel alongside glass, as seen in the Jac. P. Thijsse monument. His creative output is preserved within the private and literary archive available at Leiden University Library since 2019.
Awards and public recognition
Throughout his career, Wolkers received numerous accolades for his contributions to the arts, including the Multatuli Award and the Prose prize of the City of Amsterdam in 1963. He was later recognized with the Constantijn Huygens Prize in 1982 and the P.C. Hooft Award in 1989. Despite these honors, he notably declined several awards, including the two aforementioned prizes. His late-career recognition included the Hendrik de Vries Award in 1996 and the Busken Huet award in 1991.
Fast facts
- Born: 1925, Oegstgeest
- Died: 2007, Texel
- Citizenship: Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Notable Works: Turks fruit, Vredesmonument, Watersnoodmonument Kruiningen
- Primary Occupations: writer, sculptor, painter
- Residence: Texel (1980–2007)
- Archive location: Leiden University Library
Questions readers ask
Did Jan Wolkers accept all the awards he was offered?
No. He famously refused the Constantijn Huygens Prize in 1982 and the P.C. Hooft Award in 1989.
Why were some of his public sculptures destroyed?
Several of his glass-based outdoor monuments in the Netherlands were subject to vandalism, which prompted him to incorporate more steel into his designs.
Achievements
- Constantijn Huygens Prize — 1982
- Prose prize of the City of Amsterdam — 1963
- Notable work: Vredesmonument
- Notable work: Watersnoodmonument Kruiningen
- Notable work: Without title
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