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Anna Enquist
Anna Enquist
Anna Enquist
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Anna Enquist (born 19 July 1945) is the pen name of one of the more popular authors in the Netherlands, Christa Widlund-Broer. She is known for both her poetry and her novels.[1]

Key Information

Biography

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Born in Amsterdam, Enquist studied piano at the music academy in The Hague and psychology at Leiden University.[2] Her first poems appeared in the journal Maatstaf in 1988, while her first collection Soldatenliederen (Soldiers' Songs) was published in 1991, while she was still working as a psychoanalyst. In 1992, she received the C. Buddingh'-prijs for her debut poetry collection.[3] Thereafter she devoted most of her time to literature. On the poetry front, she published six more collections: Jachtscènes (Hunting Scenes; 1992), Een nieuw afscheid (A New Goodbye; 1994), De tweede helft (The Second Half; 2000), Hier was vuur (Here Was Fire; 2002), De tussentijd (The Interval; 2004) and Nieuws van nergens (News from Nowhere; 2010). They have all been published in one volume as Gedichten 1991-2012.[4]

Enquist's first prose works, Het meesterstuk (The Masterpiece, 1995) and Het geheim (The Secret, 1997), are psychological novels in which classical music plays an important part. In 2002, she reached a wide readership with De ijsdragers (The Ice Carriers) which was distributed as a free gift during the Dutch Book Week in 2002. Her acclaimed historical novel De thuiskomst (The Homecoming, 2005) is centred on Elizabeth Batts, the wife of the British explorer James Cook.[2] In 2008, she published Contrapunt (Counterpoint) about a pianist studying Bach's Goldberg Variations and remembering her deceased daughter. This moving novel is based on the author's tragic experience of losing her own 27-year-old daughter Margit in a biking accident in Amsterdam in 2001.

Psychological and relationship issues, the loss of a child or children, painful memories, the challenges of ageing as well as her love of classical music are themes not only of Counterpoint, but also of her 2014 novel Kwartet (Quartet).

Awards

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In 2005, Enquist received the Taalunie Toneelschrijfprijs together with Antoine Uitdehaag [nl] and Anne Vegter for their play Struisvogels op de Coolsingel.[5]

References

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Anna Enquist

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'''Anna Enquist''' is the pen name of '''Christa Widlund-Broer''', a Dutch novelist and poet known for her psychologically insightful fiction and poetry that frequently explore themes of loss, grief, family, memory, and the influence of classical music. Born Christa Widlund-Broer on July 19, 1945 in Amsterdam, she trained as a classical pianist at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and also studied psychology at Leiden University. Her early career included work as a pianist and répétiteur before she transitioned to writing in the 1990s. Her debut poetry collection Soldatenliederen (Soldiers' Songs) appeared in 1991 and received the C. Buddingh'-prijs for best debut poetry collection in 1992. Enquist has since published numerous poetry collections and novels, many of which have been bestsellers in the Netherlands and translated into several languages. Her novels often draw on her personal experiences and interests, including the profound impact of her daughter Margriet's tragic death in 2001, which influenced works such as Contrapunt (Counterpoint, 2008), a story intertwining a pianist's study of Bach's Goldberg Variations with mourning. Other notable novels include Het meesterstuk (The Masterpiece, 1995), Het geheim (The Secret, 1997), De ijsdragers (The Ice Carriers, 2002), and De thuiskomst (The Homecoming, 2005), a historical novel about the wife of Captain James Cook. Enquist's writing is celebrated for its emotional depth, precise language, and ability to blend intellectual and personal elements.

Early life and education

Anna Enquist was born Christa Widlund-Broer on 19 July 1945 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. She developed early interests in classical music and psychology, which shaped her educational path. She studied piano at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague while simultaneously pursuing psychology at Leiden University. Her training in music and psychology informed her understanding of human experience before she transitioned to full-time writing.

Literary career

Poetry

Anna Enquist's first poems appeared in the literary journal Maatstaf in 1988. She made her debut as a poet with the collection Soldatenliederen in 1991, which received the C. Buddingh'-prijs in 1992. Enquist followed her debut with several additional collections, including Jachtscènes in 1992, Een nieuw afscheid in 1994, De tweede helft in 2000, Hier was vuur in 2002, De tussentijd in 2004, Nieuws van nergens in 2010, Een kooi van klank in 2013, and Hoor de stad in 2015. Her poetic oeuvre up to that point was later gathered in the collected edition Gedichten 1991-2012. Enquist's poetry is characterized by deep insight into the human psyche, a strong connection to music, and profound emotional depth. Her work features emotional intensity and a dark undertone, often touching on themes of loss and the healing power of art. These elements, including recurring motifs of loss and classical music, also appear in her novels.

Novels and prose

Anna Enquist's novels and prose works are renowned for their psychological insight, integration of classical music as a central motif, and sensitive exploration of grief, memory, and human relationships. Her first novel, Het meesterstuk (The Masterpiece, 1994), is a psychological study that draws on Mozart’s Don Giovanni to examine artistic obsession, family tensions, and emotional turmoil. Het geheim (The Secret, 1997) employs interwoven narratives structured like musical counterpoint to probe hidden truths and psychological complexities. De ijsdragers (The Ice Carriers, 2002) reached a broad audience as the official gift book for Dutch Book Week, highlighting everyday lives and underlying tensions in a small community. De thuiskomst (The Homecoming, 2005) is a historical novel centered on Elizabeth Batts, wife of explorer James Cook, depicting her endurance, domestic life, and emotional struggles during prolonged separations. Contrapunt (Counterpoint, 2008) portrays a concert pianist immersing herself in Bach’s Goldberg Variations while grappling with the grief of her daughter's death, using music as a means of confronting loss. The novel's depiction of mourning reflects the author's own experience of personal tragedy. De verdovers (2011) explores family dynamics and psychological strains across generations. Kwartet (Quartet, 2014) weaves themes of ageing, relational strains, loss, and classical music into a narrative that incorporates subtle thriller elements. Later novels include Want de avond (2018) and Sloop (2021), continuing her focus on personal and emotional complexities. Across her prose, Enquist consistently returns to themes of psychological depth, classical music as refuge from trauma, the enduring impact of losing loved ones, painful memories, and the realities of ageing.

Playwriting and other works

Anna Enquist's foray into playwriting is notably limited compared to her extensive work in poetry and novels. Her primary contribution to the genre is the collaborative theater text Struisvogels op de Coolsingel, co-authored with Antoine Uitdehaag and Anne Vegter for Theater Bonheur in Rotterdam. The work consists of seven monologues that present personal and poetic testimonies from individuals who lived through the devastating German bombing of Rotterdam on 14 May 1940, exploring the aftermath in intimate, reflective voices. The production premiered on 12 May 2005 and was staged exclusively in Rotterdam. In recognition of the text, Enquist, Uitdehaag, and Vegter received the Taalunie Toneelschrijfprijs 2005, an annual award honoring the best original Dutch-language play script from the preceding season. The prize, which included a cash award of 10,000 euros, was presented during the Vlaams Theaterfestival at the Kaaitheater in Brussels. The script was subsequently published in book form in 2009.

Awards and recognition

Anna Enquist has received several notable awards and recognitions for her work across poetry, prose, and drama. In 1992, she was awarded the C. Buddingh'-prijs for her debut poetry collection Soldatenliederen. In 1993, she received the Lucy B. en C.W. van der Hoogtprijs for her second poetry collection Jachtscènes. In 2005, she shared the Taalunie Toneelschrijfprijs with Antoine Uitdehaag and Anne Vegter for their collaborative play Struisvogels op de Coolsingel. Her novel Het geheim received the Publieksprijs voor het Nederlandse Boek in 1997. Her novel De thuiskomst earned international recognition when its French translation, Le retour, received the Prix du Livre Corderie Royale-Hermione in 2007. In 2014, she was appointed Stadsdichter van Amsterdam, serving in that role until 2016. Enquist is widely regarded as one of the Netherlands' most popular contemporary authors, with a substantial national and international readership that has sustained her prominence in Dutch literature.

Personal life

Anna Enquist's personal life was deeply marked by the tragic death of her daughter, Margit Widlund. On 3 August 2001, the 27-year-old Margit was killed in a cycling accident on the Dam in Amsterdam when she was struck by a right-turning truck whose driver could not see her due to the vehicle's blind spot. Following the accident, Enquist advocated for the mandatory installation of blind spot mirrors ("dodehoekspiegels") on trucks to prevent similar incidents, contributing to legislation requiring them on both new and existing vehicles in 2003. This sudden loss created a permanent "waterscheiding" in her friendships, as she has described it, altering relationships and leaving an enduring pain that she has never fully accepted but has learned to endure. The tragedy profoundly shaped Enquist's writing, with themes of grief and remembrance recurring in her work. Her 2008 novel Contrapunt draws directly from this experience, portraying a pianist who immerses herself in Bach's Goldberg Variations while grappling with memories of her deceased daughter. Enquist has spoken of her daughter remaining constantly in her thoughts, with the loss influencing her ongoing effort to keep the memory present through literature.

Television appearances

Television appearances

Anna Enquist has made several guest appearances on Dutch television as herself, typically credited as a writer (schrijver or schrijfster) and focusing on discussions of her literary works, her interest in music, or related personal and cultural topics. Her documented television credits begin with two episodes of the talk show Barend en Van Dorp between 1999 and 2002, followed by a prominent feature as the main guest on the in-depth interview program Zomergasten in 2002. She later appeared in Herman De Coninck, Een Oefening in Verliezen in 2005 and made two appearances on Pauw & Witteman between 2008 and 2011, including a 2011 interview discussing her novel De Verdovers. Subsequent guest spots include Tijd voor MAX in 2012, Erbarme dich - Matthäus Passion Stories in 2015, Jinek in 2016, two episodes of M between 2018 and 2019, and Eus' boekenclub in 2023. These appearances have generally served to promote her writing and engage audiences in conversations about literature and allied themes.

References

  1. https://www.discogs.com/artist/2002563-Anna-Enquist
  2. https://www.letterenfonds.nl/en/authors/anna-enquist
  3. https://knjizevnost-i-svijet.vbz.hr/en/book-category/autori/anna-enquist/
  4. https://www.poetryinternational.com/en/poets-poems/poets/poet/102-22537_Enquist
  5. https://boekenoverboeken.com/de-poezie-van-anna-enquist-gebundeld-in-gedichten-1991-2012/
  6. https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/zuid004krit01_01/kll00172.php
  7. https://www.poetryinternational.com/nl/projects/bombing-of-poems/poets/anna-enquist/
  8. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/295792.Anna_Enquist
  9. https://www.gva.be/incoming/enquist-uitdehaag-en-vegter-winnen-taalunie-toneelschrijfprijs/38365684.html
  10. https://nieuws.lira.nl/Uitgave-16/Struisvogels-op-de-Coolsingel
  11. https://taalunie.org/informatie/38/winnaars-toneelschrijfprijs
  12. https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/struisvogels-op-de-coolsingel/9200000001049727/
  13. https://www.writersunlimited.nl/en/participant/anna-enquist
  14. https://www.standaardboekhandel.be/p/het-geheim-9789029504942
  15. https://www.festival-memoires-de-la-mer.fr/2007/12/26/attribution-des-prix-du-livre-et-du-film-corderie-royale-hermione-2007/
  16. https://schrijvenonline.org/nieuws/anna-enquist-nieuwe-stadsdichter-van-amsterdam
  17. https://wordswithoutborders.org/contributors/view/anna-enquist/
  18. https://feitjes.amsterdam/herdenken/het-ongeluk-dat-leidde-tot-de-verplichte-dodehoekspiegel/
  19. https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/anna-enquist-therapie-is-er-niet-om-gelukkig-te-worden~b58d145d/
  20. https://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2009-07/counterpoint/
  21. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1812648/
  22. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0754903/
  23. https://www.bnnvara.nl/pauwenwitteman/videos/241021
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