TNTL 113

G.P. van der Stroom

De geschiedenis van de Hooft-handschriften ontraadseld

Abstract - The majority of the original manuscripts of the works of P.C. Hooft have come down to us, although they are spread in a clearly random fashion among a number of libraries. There is every reason to assume that these manuscripts were still together at the time of his sudden death in 1647. By far the greater part has been housed in Amsterdam since 1743, while another substantial amount surfaced in Utrecht only 150 years ago. These manuscripts were scattered in their turn. How, when, why and by whom Hooft's written legacy became separated, remained unclear, in spite of attempts at clarification. This enigma has now been solved by, among other things, a study of the provenance of the papers of both his son Arnout and his father Mayor C.P. Hooft.