Hugo Claus

Dear all,
I just receive the message that Hugo Claus is dead. He was Belgian by birth (Bruges) and died in Antwerp today, but he lived in Amsterdam for a time and wrote in Dutch. Though (or because) I certainly donot want to deny the specificity of Flemish or of Flemish literature, I think he can best be described as a Netherlandish author.
For anyone wanting to know Dutch literature of the 20th century, Hugo Claus is essential.
His Magnum Opus "Het Verdriet van België" has been qualified as "the least read book in Flanders". It merits thorough reading, though.

It's even featured in the "1001 books you must read before you die" by Peter Boxall (I'm doing the 1001 challenge ^^). Haven't read it yet though.

Yes, Jan, I saw his obituary in our national paper here

As a practicing doctor, I was intrigued to read that he died of euthanasia, which must therefore be legal in his country. Of course in Canada, euthanasia is illegal.

I am now inspired to read his book - anyone here read him?

Indeed, Karen, euthanasia is legal in Belgium as well as in the Netherlands , in Luxemburg and in Switzerland.
There are strict conditions however: euthanasia can only be demanded by the patient her/himself (i.e. not by ANY other person, not even a partner or parent, not even when one of these says "but he asked for it himself"), only when the patient is suffering from an incurable and extremely painful or dehumanizing illness, and after several discussions with at least two doctors - which supposes the candidate is conscient and conscious, has made up her/his mind, and has stipulated exactly under what conditions and by which means euthanasia can be applied. A written declaration in one's pocket (of the kind: when I'm in a coma I authorize euthanasia) is not enough. Euthaniasia cannot be applied immediately at the first demand. Several weeks at least and more often several months will have passed between the first demand and the authorization.
The doctor must see to it that the conditions are realized (incurable illness, deliberate and conscient decision etc.), but cannot take any initiative in the decision to apply euthanasia. Therefore the doctor can only execute the patient's explicit will. This is very important because in some countries (e.g.in France, or in the Vatican) many people have the impression that euthanasia implies that doctors are walking around in hospitals looking for people they would (like to) give a lethal injection, without ever asking. This tells more about the way one is (mis)interpreting a doctor's duties towards a patient than about legally defined euthanasia.

I know this is a strange place to speak about this delicate problem, but I just wanted to react upon Karen's remarks, not to start a discussion. If some people would like to discuss, there may be other places we could do that...

I have read "The Sorrow of Belgium", but some twenty years ago. It's impressive reading, crude and incisive. And it's quite a voluminous book. So be warned! But I never met somebody who read the book and regretted it. Nor do I...

Thanks for the interesting outline of the process of euthanasia, Jan. It is a very important topic for doctors (and most important for the patient of course). Without getting into a huge philosophical debate about dying/control/consent etc, I would like to put my two cents worth in and say that the European system is very appealing to me.

Obviously, anything as important as this must be defined and monitored, but it seems that there are too many legal and religious barriers in America to allow such compassionate actions.

Thanks, Jan, for your imput.

Karen, just a precision: euthanasia isn't authorized in Europe as a whole, only in the countries I specified in #4. It is important to know that in many countries the question is much debated, but legislators are very reticent... It is probable however that in some countries (e.g.England, France and Germany) the process will be legalized in a not too far future (in a few years?)

De zwaardvis
Finished reading: 27 May 2011

Available in English as:

Rather uninteresting novella, by the Flemish author Hugo Claus.



Other books I have read by Hugo Claus:
Een bruid in de morgen
De dans van de reiger
De koele minnaar

I've recently bought Wonder, which doesn't seem to have a touchstone under its English title.

If you put the title + the author name together in the square brackets the system suggests the correct touchstone Wonder Hugo Claus which is the English translation of De verwondering.

It is not in my LT catalogue but I have the strong suspicion I have a copy somewhere.

Mine is an Archipelago edition, which I just bought in their 5 for $55 sale. Thanks for the tip about putting the title and author together.