Anna Blaman

Anna Blaman, pseudonym of Johanna Petronella Vrugt, (31 January 1905 – 13 July 1960) was a Dutch writer and poet.

She began publishing poetry in the literary magazines Criterium and Helikon. In 1941, she published her first novel Vrouw en vriend (Woman and friend). This was followed by Eenzaam avontuur (Lonely adventure) in 1948. She published a novella De kruisvaarder (The Crusader) in 1950 and two books of short stories Ram Horna in 1951 and Overdag in 1957. The novel Op leven en dood (A Matter of Life and Death) was published in 1954.

Vrugt died in Rotterdam at the age of 55 of a cerebral embolism.

The 1990 Dutch film Spelen of sterven (English title To Play or to Die) was based on one of her stories.

Publication (in English) Anna Blaman: A matter of life and death. Transl. by Adrienne Dixon; introd. by Egbert Krispyn. New York, Twayne, 1974.