Hugo Claus | |
|---|---|
 Claus in Ghent, 1984 | |
| Born | Hugo Maurice Julien Claus 5 April 1929 Bruges, Belgium |
| Died | 19 March 2008 (aged 78) Antwerp, Belgium |
| Pen name | Dorothea van Male; Jan Hyoens; Thea Streiner |
| Occupation | Playwright, novelist, poet, painter, film director |
| Notable works | The Sorrow of Belgium |
| Spouse | Elly Overzier Veerle de Wit |
Hugo Maurice Julien Claus (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦyɣoː ˈklʌu̯s]; 5 April 1929 – 19 March 2008) was a leading Belgian author who published under his own name as well as various pseudonyms. Claus' literary contributions spanned the genres of drama, novels, and poetry; he also left a legacy as a painter and film director. He wrote primarily in Dutch, although he also wrote some poetry in English. He won the 2000 International Nonino Prize in Italy.
His death by euthanasia, which is legal in Belgium, led to considerable controversy.