Herman Koch (; born 5 September 1953) is a Dutch writer and actor. He has written short story, novels, and columns. His best-selling novel The Dinner (2009) has been translated into 21 languages. He has acted for radio, television, and film. He co-created the long-running TV series Jiskefet (1990–2005).
Early life and education
Herman Koch was born on 5 September 1953 in
Arnhem, Netherlands. His family moved to
Amsterdam when he was two years old.
[ Radio Books – 'A Brief History of Deceit' by Herman Koch , Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 2009. Retrieved on 14 October 2012.] He went to the Montessori Lyceum Amsterdam from which he was expelled.
[ G.J. van Bork, Koch, Herman, Schrijvers en dichters, 2006. Retrieved on 29 May 2013.]
Acting
Koch is an actor for radio, television, and film. He contributed to the comedy show
Borát (1984–1989) for radio.
Together with Kees Prins and Michiel Romeyn, Koch created the long-running
absurdism and
satire series
Jiskefet (1990–2005;
Trash Can) for television, in which he also acted.
And he played minor roles in the movies
The Flying Liftboy (1998) and
Hè, Gezellig (2014; Hey, Cosy), and the TV series
The Flying Liftboy (2000) and
Voetbalvrouwen (2007;
Footballers' Wives).
[ Herman Koch, IMDb. Retrieved on 17 October 2014.]
Writing
Koch is the author of short stories, novels, and columns. His debut was
De voorbijganger (1985;
The Passerby) with short stories. His first novel was
Red ons, Maria Montanelli (1989;
Save Us, Maria Montanelli).
In 2005, Koch wrote the text for the Grand Dictation of the Dutch Language.
[ Colofon, Omroep NTR. Retrieved on 14 July 2013.]
His sixth novel was Het diner (2009; The Dinner), which was translated into 21 languages including English,[ Author: Herman Koch , Dutch Foundation for Literature. Retrieved on 2012-10-14.] had sold over one million copies throughout Europe,[Arifa Akbar, The Dinner, By Herman Koch, trans. Sam Garrett, The Independent, 2012. Retrieved on 18 October 2012.] and won the 2009 NS Audience award (Dutch: NS Publieksprijs).[ NS Publieksprijs naar Het Diner, NRC Handelsblad, 2009. Retrieved on 29 May 2013.] A Dutch play of The Dinner was in theaters in 2012[ Het diner, Hummelinck Stuurman Theaterbureau. Retrieved on 14 July 2013.] and a Dutch movie of the book was released in 2013.[ Het Diner de Film . Retrieved on 22 January 2014.] An Italian movie adaptation, The Dinner (Italian: I Nostri Ragazzi), was released in 2014.[://www.comingsoon.it/film/i-nostri-ragazzi/50276/scheda/] An English-language film adaptation, The Dinner, was released in 2017.[Ben Child, " Cate Blanchett cooking up directorial debut with The Dinner", The Guardian, 2013. Retrieved on 4 February 2014.]
Koch's characters are usually highly disagreeable, distrusting and violent, and they often defend questionable morals and extreme views. Underlying themes in their narratives include happiness, mediocrity, disgust, the right to live, cynicism, violence, beauty, and the ugly. Koch's writing style is easy to follow and straightforward.
Personal life
Koch is married to Amalia, and they have a son.
[ Herman Koch, Amalia, de Volkskrant, 2003. Retrieved on 14 July 2013.][ Herman Koch (interview), Interview: Herman Koch, Margriet, 2011. Retrieved on 14 July 2013.] Koch is a half-brother of writer
Els Pelgrom.
Bibliography
- Short stories
-
(1985) De voorbijganger (The Passerby)
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(1991) Hansaplast voor een opstandige (Hansaplast for a Rebel), under the pseudonym Menno Voorhof
-
(1998) Geen agenda (No Agenda)
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(2001) Schrijven & drinken (Writing & Drinking)
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(2001) Dingetje (Thingy)
-
(2003) Alle verhalen (All Stories)
-
(2012) Korte geschiedenis van het bedrog (Brief History of Deceit)
- Novels
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(1989) Red ons, Maria Montanelli (Save Us, Maria Montanelli)
-
(1996) Eindelijk oorlog (War at Last)
-
(2000) Eten met Emma (Eating With Emma)
-
(2003) Odessa Star (Odessa Star)
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(2005) Denken aan Bruce Kennedy (Thinking About Bruce Kennedy)
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(2009) Het diner; English translation: The Dinner (2012)
-
(2011) Zomerhuis met zwembad; English translation: Summer House with Swimming Pool (2014)
-
(2014) Geachte heer M. (Dear Mr. M.)
-
(2016) De greppel (The Ditch)
-
(2020) Finse dagen (Finnish Days)
-
(2021) Een film met Sophia (A Film With Sophia)
-
(2022) Het Koninklijk Huis (The Royal Family)
-
(2024) Ga je erover schrijven? (Are You Going to Write About It?)
- Columns
-
(1999) Het evangelie volgens Jodocus (The Gospel According To Judoc)
-
(2010) De ideale schoonzoon (The Ideal Son-in-law)
External links
