Although we have always been fascinated with famous people, the invention of modern celebrity culture dates to the nineteenth century. During Romanticism, literary authors occupied a prominent position among early stars. These changes not only had implications for the cultural role of the author, but also that of the public. A star exists by virtue of its audience, and as authors became public figures, the phenomenon of the fan and associated culture of fandom came into existence.
Star Authors in the Age of Romanticism analyzes Dutch literary celebrity culture specifically while also examining its unique place in a growing body of international scholarship on the subject. This book examines the Dutch development of literary celebrity by focusing on five famous Dutch authors from the nineteenth century: Willem Bilderdijk, Hendrik Tollens, Nicolaas Beets, François HaverSchmidt (alias Piet Paaltjens), and Eduard Douwes Dekker (better known as Multatuli).