Paulus Johannes "Paul" Biegel (; 25 March 1925 – 21 October 2006) was a successful and prolific

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

writer of

children's literature Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

Biography

Paul Biegel was born in Bussum in 1925. His father, Hermann Biegel, was of German descent, and owned a building materials shop. With his wife Madeleine Povel-Guillot he had nine children, six girls and three boys, of which Paul was the youngest. He wasn't a prolific reader as a child, preferring to play outside. His favourite books where the fairy tales of the brothers Grimm and the works of

Jules Verne Jules Gabriel Verne (;''Longman Pronunciation Dictionary''. ; 8 February 1828 – 24 March 1905) was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. His collaboration with the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel led to the creation of the ''Voyages extraor ...

. He studied in Bussum (primary school) and

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

, graduating in 1945. His first story, ''De ontevreden kabouter'' ("The unhappy gnome"), written when he was 14 years old, was printed in the newspaper ''

De Tijd ''De Tijd'' (, ''The Times'') is a Belgian newspaper that mainly focuses on business and economics. It is printed on salmon pink paper since May 2009, following the example of its colleagues ''Financial Times'', ''Het Financieele Dagblad'', '' FT ...

''. He wanted to become a pianist, but decided that he didn't have enough talent. He went to the United States for a year after

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, where he worked for '. After his return, he worked as an editor for Dutch magazines like the '. He commenced Law Studies, but stopped these in 1953. He wrote several newspaper comics, the most important of which was ''Minter and Hinter'', which appeared in ''

Het Vrije Volk ''Het Vrije Volk'' was a Dutch social-democratic daily newspaper. It was the successor, after World War II, of the socialist daily '' Het Volk''. The paper appeared legally 1 March 1945 in Eindhoven. From 28 January 1946, all subdivisions of the ...

'' for ten stories and 579 episodes. In 1959, he started working in the comic studio of

Marten Toonder Marten Toonder (2 May 1912 – 27 July 2005) was a Dutch comic strip creator, born in Rotterdam. He was probably the most successful comic artist in the Netherlands and had a great influence on the Dutch language by introducing new words and expr ...

as a comics writer for the ''Kappie'' series. He only published his first book, ''De gouden gitaar'', in 1962. He became one of the most important Dutch writers for children in 1965, when he received the

Gouden Griffel The Gouden Griffel (Golden Stylus) is an award given to authors of children's or teenagers' literature in the Netherlands. History Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Prop ...

for ''Het sleutelkruid''. In 1973 he won the Staatsprijs voor kinder- en jeugdliteratuur literary award. He has written over 50 books, mostly published by

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former province on the western coast of the Netherlands. From the 10th to the 16th c ...

, and many of his books have been translated in English, French, German, Danish, Swedish, Welsh, South African, Japanese, Turkish, Greek, and Spanish. His own favourites were ''De tuinen van Dorr'' and ''De soldatenmaker''. Other authors he appreciated included

J. R. R. Tolkien John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (, ; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer and philology, philologist. He was the author of the high fantasy works ''The Hobbit'' and ''The Lord of the Rings''. From 1925 to 1945, Tolkien was ...

J. K. Rowling Joanne Rowling ( "rolling"; born 31 July 1965), also known by her pen name J. K. Rowling, is a British author and Philanthropy, philanthropist. She wrote ''Harry Potter'', a seven-volume children's fantasy series published from 1997 to ...

, and

Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Andersen's fairy tales, consisti ...

. Paul Biegel lived in

. He married Marijke Sträter in 1960, with whom he had a daughter, Leonie, in 1963, and in 1964 a son, Arthur, who committed suicide when he was 28. His marriage ultimately failed, and only at a later age did he publicly admit to being homosexual. He died in 2006 and was buried at Zorgvlied cemetery. In 2007, publishers Holland (publisher) and Lemniscaat started reissuing twenty of his best works in the ''Biegelbibliotheek''.

Bibliography

*1962: ''De gouden gitaar'' *1962: ''Het grote boek'' *1964: ''De kukelhaan'' *1964: ''Het sleutelkruid'': translated as '' The King of the Copper Mountains'' (1967,

J. M. Dent Joseph Malaby Dent (30 August 1849 – 9 May 1926) was a British book publisher who produced the Everyman's Library series. Early life Dent was born in Darlington in what is now part of the Grade II listed Britannia Inn. After a short and ...

) *1964: ''Het lapjesbeest'' *1966: ''Kinderverhalen'' *1967: ''Ik wou dat ik anders was'', translated as '' The Seven-times Search'' (1971, J. M. Dent) *1969: ''De Tuinen van Dorr'', translated as '' The Gardens of Dorr'' (1975, J. M. Dent), illustrated by

Tonke Dragt Antonia "Tonke" Johanna Willemina Dragt (born 12 November 1930) is a Dutch writer and illustrator of children's literature. Her book '' De brief voor de Koning'' was chosen by CPNB as the best Dutch youth book of the latter half of the twentieth ...

*1970: ''De zeven fabels uit Ubim'' *1971: ''Sebastiaan Slorp'' *1971: ''De twaalf rovers'', translated as '' The Twelve Robbers'' (1974, J. M. Dent) *1971: ''De kleine kapitein'', translated as '' The Little Captain'' (1971, J. M. Dent) *1973: ''Het olifantenfeest'', translated as '' The Elephant Party'' (1977, Kestrell and

Puffin Books Puffin Books is a longstanding children's imprint of the British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s, it has been among the largest publishers of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world. The imprint now belongs t ...

) *1973: ''De kleine kapitein in het land van Waan en Wijs'', translated as ''The little Captain and the Seven Towers'' (1973, J. M. Dent) *1974: ''De vloek van Woestewolf'', translated as ''

The Curse of the Werewolf ''The Curse of the Werewolf'' is a 1961 British horror film based on the novel ''The Werewolf of Paris'' by Guy Endore. The film was made by the British company Hammer Film Productions and was shot at Bray Studios on sets that were constructed ...

'' (1981,

Blackie and Son Limited Blackie & Son was a publishing house in Glasgow, Scotland, and London, England, from 1809 to 1991. History The firm was founded as a bookseller in 1809 by John Blackie (1782–1874) as a partnership with two others and was known as 'Black ...

) *1974: ''Het stenen beeld'', translated as '' Far Beyond and Back Again'' (1977, J. M. Dent) *1974: ''Twaalf sloeg de klok'', translated as '' The Clock Struck Twelve'' (1979, Glover & Blair) *1975: ''De kleine kapitein en de schat van Schrik en Vreze'', translated as ''The little Captain and the Pirate Treasure'' (1980, J. M. Dent) *1975: ''De zeven veren van de papegaai'' *1976: ''Het spiegelkasteel'', translated as '' The Looking-glass Castle'' (1979, Blackie and Son) *1976: ''De dwergjes van Tuil'', translated as '' The Dwarfs of Nosegay'' (1978, Blackie and Son) *1977: ''De rover Hoepsika'', translated as '' Robber Hopsika'' (1978, J. M. Dent) *1977: ''De brieven van de generaal'', translated as '' Letters from the general'' (1979, J. M. Dent) *1977: ''Wie je droomt ben je zelf'' *1977: ''De wenende aap van Kleef'' *1978: ''Virgilius van Tuil'', translated as ''The fattest Dwarf of Nosegay'' (1980, Blackie and Son) *1979: ''Virgilius van Tuil op zoek naar een taart'', translated as ''Virgil Nosegay and the Cake Hunt'' (1981, Blackie and Son) *1979: ''De toverhoed'', translated as ''The Tin Can Beast and other stories'' (1980, Glover & Blair) *1980: ''Virgilius van Tuil en de rijke oom uit Zweden'', translated as ''Virgil Nosegay and the

Hupmobile Hupmobile was an automobile built from 1909 through 1939 by the Hupp Motor Car Company of Detroit. The prototype was developed in 1908. History Founding In 1909, Bobby Hupp co-founded Hupp Motor Car Company, with Charles Hastings, for ...

'' (1983, Blackie and Son) *1981: ''Jiri'', translated as ''

Crocodile Man ''Crocodile Man'' (''Kropeu Charavan'' in Khmer, also known as ''Kraithong Krapeu Chalawon'' in Thai or ''A Water Warrior and a Crocodile Man'') is a widely acclaimed Cambodian horror film released in 1972 by Hui Keung. It starred Khmer actress Dy ...

'' (1982, J. M. Dent) *1981: ''Haas, eerste boek: Voorjaar'' *1982: ''Haas, tweede boek: Zomer'' *1982: ''Haas, derde boek: Najaar'' *1982: ''Virgilius van Tuil overwintert bij de mensen'', translated as ''Virgil Nosegay and the Wellington Boots'' (1984, Blackie and Son) *1984: ''Tante Mathilde en de sterren van de Grote Beer'' *1984: ''De zwarte weduwe'' *1984: ''Japie en de dingen'' *1984: ''Een tijdje later'' *1985: ''Japie en het grote geld'' *1985: ''Van de oude dame en de muis'' *1986: ''Japie rekent af'' *1986: ''Het wolkenschip'' *1987: ''De rode prinses'' (illustrated by Fiel van der Veen) *1989: ''Beer in het verkeer'' *1989: ''Het eiland daarginds'' *1990: ''Anderland, een Brandaan-mythe'' *1991: ''Juttertje Tim'' *1992: ''Nachtverhaal'' *1994: ''De soldatenmaker'' *1995: ''De karabijn'' *1996: ''Het ijzeren tapijt'' *1999: ''Laatste verhalen van de eeuw'' *2002: ''Een been stokkebeen'' *2003: ''Man en muis'' *2004: ''De roep van de kinkhoorn'' *2004: ''Swing!'' *2005: ''Wegloop'' *2007: ''De Lorrelee''

Reworkings of classical books and stories

*1966: ''Sprookjes van Grimm'' *1967: ''De rattevanger van Hameln'' *1969: ''Sprookjesmolen'' *1970: ''Sagen van Grimm'' *1971: ''Een toren naar de maan'' *1972: ''Reinaart de Vos'' *1975: ''De fabels van Aesopus'' *1995: ''Het beleg van Troje'' *1997: ''De zwerftochten van Aeneas''

Translations

Among the 35 books Paul Biegel translated into Dutch are ''

The Borrowers ''The Borrowers'' is a children's fantasy novel by the English author Mary Norton, published by Dent in 1952. It features a family of tiny people who live secretly in the walls and floors of an English house and "borrow" from the big people in ...

'' series by Mary Norton, three books by Michael Foreman, two by

John Burningham John Burningham (27 April 1936 – 4 January 2019) was an English author and illustrator of children's books, especially picture books for young children. He lived in north London with his wife Helen Oxenbury, another illustrator. His last publis ...

, three by

Tony Ross Anthony Lee Ross (born 10 August 1938) is a British author and illustrator of children's picture books. In Britain, he is best known for writing and illustrating his Little Princess books and for illustrating the Horrid Henry series by Frances ...

, and four by

Kaye Umansky Kaye Umansky (; born 6 December 1946) is an English children's author and poet. She has written over 130 books for children and her work ranges from picture books to novels. She is best known for the Pongwiffy & Jim Series. Early life Kaye Uman ...

Awards

* Dutch State Award for Children's Literature (1973) *

Woutertje Pieterse Prijs The Woutertje Pieterse Prijs (Dutch for Woutertje Pieterse Prize) is an annual Dutch literary award for the best children's book of the preceding year. History The award was first given in 1988. The award is awarded annually in March or A ...

(1991: ''Anderland'' and 2000: ''Laatste verhalen van de eeuw'') *

Nienke van Hichtum-prijs The Nienke van Hichtum-prijs (Dutch for Nienke van Hichtum Prize) is a biennial Dutch literary award for children's literature awarded by the Jan Campert-Stichting. The award is named after children's author Nienke van Hichtum and was first awar ...

(1973: ''De twaalf rovers'') *

(1965: ''Het sleutelkruid''; 1972: ''De kleine kapitein'' and 1993: ''Nachtverhaal'') *

Zilveren Griffel The Gouden Griffel (Golden Stylus) is an award given to authors of children's or teenagers' literature in the Netherlands. History Since 1971, it is awarded each year during the Dutch Children's Books Week, by the Stichting Collectieve Prop ...

(1972: ''De twaalf rovers''; 1974: ''Het olifantenfeest''; 1982: ''Haas''; 1988: ''De rode prinses) *In 1996, Paul Biegel was nominated for the

Hans Christian Andersen Award The Hans Christian Andersen Awards are two literary awards given by the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), recognising one living author and one living illustrator for their "lasting contribution to children's literature". Th ...

. *In 1999, he was made a Knight in the

Order of the Netherlands Lion The Order of the Netherlands Lion, also known as the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands ( nl, De Orde van de Nederlandse Leeuw, french: L'Ordre du Lion Néerlandais) is a Dutch order of chivalry founded by King William I of the Netherlands on ...

Notes

External links

* (Biegel Rights Agency)
Biography
at publisher Holland (archived 2002-02-27) * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Biegel, Paul 1925 births 2006 deaths Dutch children's writers Dutch comics writers Knights of the Order of the Netherlands Lion People from Bussum Woutertje Pieterse Prize winners Nienke van Hichtum Prize winners Gouden Griffel winners