Roger van de Velde

Roger van de Velde (Boom, 13 February 1925-Antwerp, 30 May 1970) was a Belgian writer. He was a son of Jan Frans van de Velde (wine merchant) and Maria Callaer. In 1947, he married with Rosa Verboven.He worked as a journalist for the "Nieuwe Gazet" and also published in "Arsenaal" en "Nieuw Gewas".

Writing Life

Van de velde began his career as a journalist and literary writer (initially writing radio plays). In terms of literary prominence it was events outside his writing that ironically lead to some of his best writing.

In his semi-autobiographical books "Galgenaas" (Gallows Bird) and "Recht Op Antwoord" (A Right To An Answer) he chronicled his experiences of the justice system, prisons and the psychiatric institutions where he had been placed. These incarcerations were the result of an addiction to the painkilling drug palfium (Dextromoramide) prescribed after undergoing several stomach operations. All of his books were written during this decade, up to his death in 1970.

Bibliography

* Galgenaas (1966)
* De slaapkamer (1967)
* De knetterende schedels (1969)
* Recht op antwoord (1969)
* Kaas met gaatjes (1970)
* Tabula rasa (1970)
* De dorpsveroveraar (1973)

Awards

* 1970 - Arkprijs van het Vrije Woord

ee also

* Flemish literature

ource

* [http://www.dbnl.org/auteurs/auteur.php?id=veld026 Roger van de Velde]
* G.J. van Bork en P.J. Verkruijsse, De Nederlandse en Vlaamse auteurs (1985)