Gerbrand Bredero
Gerbrand Adriaensz. Bredero (* March 16, 1585 - † August 23, 1618) was a Dutch poet and playwright in the period known as the Dutch Golden Age.
Life
In 1585 Bredero was born in Amsterdam in [The Netherlands]] and lived there his whole life. He called himself "G.A. Bredero, Amstelredammer", and sometimes he is called Breero or Brederode. He was the third child of Adriaen Cornelisz. Bredero, who was a shoemaker, and Marry Gerbrants. In school Bredero learned French and possibly also some English and Latin. Later he was educated as an art painter, but none of his paintings have survived. He was an active member of the rederijkerskamer "d'Eglantier" in Amsterdam and had friends like Roemer Visscher and P.C.Hooft and Hugo Grotius. In the year 1618, on the age of 33, Bredero suddenly died, shortly after he had fallen through ice. He never got married.
The playwright
Bredero wrote in many different kinds of plays: tragedies, farces, comedies. He is most famous for his comedy "De Spaanschen Brabander Ierolimo", about a poor nobleman who pretends to be wealthy. After centuries this play is still performed in theatres. Bredero often used the words "'t kan verkeeren" to end a play, as it's signature, and nowadays these words are still used in The Netherlands as an expression, meaning "things happen".
The dates are publishing dates, most plays were already performed several years earlier.
Tragedies
- Treur-spel van Rodd'rick ende Alphonsus (1616)
- Griane (1616)
- Lucelle (1616)
- Stommen ridder (1619)
- Angeniet (1623) (not finished)
Farces
- Den Molenaer (1618)
- De Klucht van de koe (1619)
- Symen sonder soeticheydt (1619)
- De Hoochduytschen Quacksalver (1619) (unsure whether Bredero is the author)
Comedies
- Moortje (1617)
- De Spaanschen Brabander Ierolimo (1618)
The poet
Bredero wrote different kinds of poems and also translated poems from French. A few years after his death his poetry was published in the book "Boertig, amoureus en aandachtig groot liedboek", meaning "Book with funny songs, love songs and serious songs". In the year 2004 two previously unknown poems of Bredero as well as a poem translated by Bredero from French, were discovered in the book Tragische Historien (1612) by Piet Verkruijsse.
Poetry
- Tragische Historien (1612) (includes two poems of Bredero, one translation by Bredero)
- Apollo (1615)
- Boertig, amoureus en aandachtig groot liedboek (1622)
External Links
- G.A. Bredero - digital versions of a major part his oeuvre (in Dutch)
- Bredero song text page - English translations of several songs of Bredero
- G.A. Bredero 1585-1618 - pictures of Bredero
- Newly discovered poems of Bredero and Starter - digital versions of in 2004 discovered poems (in Dutch)