'Us Bretonske freonen' and 'Wêr bliuwe de froulju': two publications in Literêre Rige

The Literêre Rigen Editorial Board provides editions about Mid Frisian texts, nineteenth-century texts, twentieth-century texts, and bio- and bibliographic writings. Editions 1147 en 1148 are the new publications by Blom and Spoelstra. Both books have been published by Afûk. 

Blom

In June 1948, the then newly founded Frisian literary magazine De Tsjerne published a special issue devoted entirely to the Celtic-speaking Breton minority in France. In the more than ten years that followed, Brittany, with its language and literature, even became a recurring theme in De Tsjerne and other Frisian-language magazines. In addition, the leading Breton magazine Al Liamm published a similar special issue in 1951, this time devoted entirely to Fryslân, with contributions from the most important figures in the Frisian movement of the time. Al Liamm also continued to follow cultural developments in Fryslân well into the 1960s.

How did this culturally fruitful but almost forgotten exchange come about, and to what end? Who were the central Breton and Frisian figures in this attempt to bring linguistic minorities in Europe closer together immediately after the Second World War? The cultural and political context of post-war European federalism, the problematic wartime history of both movements, and the personal networks that formed the background to this Breton and Frisian exchange are the central issues addressed in this book.

In addition to the many magazine and newspaper articles in both Breton and Frisian, as well as in French and Dutch, the book will focus on the previously unpublished correspondence between the key figures in this Frisian-Breton exchange, with excursions to Ireland, Wales, North Frisia and Italy.

Alderik H. Blom is Professor of Celtic Studies at Philipps University in Marburg, Germany, and was a visiting researcher at the Fryske Akademy for a period of time as part of this project.

Alderik Blom, "Hor c’heneiled vreizhat / Us Bretonske freonen: Betrekkingen tussen de Friese en Bretonse beweging ca. 1946–1958". Afûk, Ljouwert 2025. Rige Minsken en Boeken, Rige bio- en bibliografyske skriften, nûmer 29. In rige bio- en bibliografyske skriften fan de Fryske Akademy, ûnder redaksje fan: Marijke de Boer, Piter Boersma, André Looijenga, Meindert Reitsma en Janneke Spoelstra. FA-nûmer: 1147.

Spoelstra

This book is about what it is or can be like to get involved in Frisian literature, specifically for women. Where does the inspiration come from? What are the obstacles? Are the opportunities equal for everyone? What about the gender balance in Frisian poetry? What does the Frisian literary ladder look like? Do men write more than women? Are women less likely to publish? Why has the Gysbert Japix Prize for poetry not been awarded to a woman since 1986? How do the women interviewed view these issues?

This book is an update of Jelma Sytske Knol's book, ‘"Ut syn aerd wei froulik": de Fryske dichteressen en it misferstân’(1993), but has its own approach and elaboration. To paint a picture of how things have progressed for women in Frisian literature, and especially in Frisian poetry, Janneke Spoelstra interviewed ten of their fellow poets, as she is also a poet herself.

Spoelstra also wrote an introduction to the interviews and reflected on the answers. From November 2022 to January 2024, Spoelstra interviewed Aggie van der Meer, Ytje Hoekstra, Albertina Soepboer, Margryt Poortstra, Tine Bethlehem, Elske Kampen, Sigrid Kingma, Grytsje Schaaf, Lida Dijkstra and Janna van der Meer.

‘Wêr bliuwe de froulju? Ynterviewbondel oer de Fryske literatuer (1988-2023)’, gearstald troch Janneke Spoelstra. Afûk, Ljouwert 2025. Rige Minsken en boeken nû. 30. In rige bio- en bibliografyske skriften fan de Fryske Akademy, ûnder redaksje fan: Marijke de Boer, Piter Boersma, André Looijenga, Meindert Reitsma en Janneke Spoelstra. FA-nûmer: 1148.