Edward van de Vendel new guest writer at the University of Groningen

Children’s and young adult author Edward van de Vendel will be the new guest writer of the University of Groningen. In three lectures and a public interview, all taking place this autumn, he will examine classics from children’s and young adult fiction, queer books, and literature from the Eurovision Song Contest. Alongside this, he will hold seminars for a selected group of students.

Programme

Edward van de Vendel is a unique, multifaceted author. He writes poetry for children and young adults, poetry comics, informative books, picture books, books for beginners, children’s books and young adult novels. During the opening night of his guest-writership, poet and writer Iduna Paalman will join him in conversation about his work and his passion for writing for children and young adults. In three public lectures, Edward van de Vendel will discuss three different themes: ten modern classics from children’s and young adult literature, young adult fiction’s new interest in gender and sexuality in queer books, and the unexpected intersection of literature and the Eurovision Song Contest. In the seminars, he will guide students in writing a coherent series of children’s poetry.

Edward van de Vendel

Edward van de Vendel grew up in a family of educators. His father was the head teacher of a primary school, his mother a nursery school teacher. Van de Vendel himself was a teacher in primary education. In 1992, together with others, he established his own primary school. After coming into contact with children’s and young adult poetry, he started to write his own poems for children, which were published in the children’s supplement of Vrij Nederland. In 1996, his first poetry collection Betrap me was published and in 1999, his first young adult novel De dagen van de bluegrassliefde, about the relationship between two boys. Edward van de Vendel now has more than 90 books to his name, which have been published in various languages. Amongst other prizes, he has received nine Zilveren Griffels for his work and has been invited to the international Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award four times.

Guest writer

Since 1986, the University of Groningen has appointed a guest writer each autumn who gives public lectures and a series of seminars. Previous guest writers at the University of Groningen include Dick Hillenius, Doeschka Meijsing, Willem Wilmink, Monica van Paemel, Willem Jan Otten, Gerrit Krol, Nelleke Noordervliet, Bernlef, Rutger Kopland, Joost Zwagerman, Thomas Rosenboom, Bas Heijne, Koos van Zomeren, Tonnus Oosterhoff, Marjolijn Februari, Esther Jansma, Kader Abdolah, Arthur Japin, Annejet van der Zijl, Hans Aarsman, Marjoleine de Vos, Joost de Vries, Ellen Deckwitz and Auke Hulst. The guest writer programme is organized by the University of Groningen and Studium Generale Groningen.