author
Josef Cohen
1886–1965
A once well-known Dutch writer and librarian, he wrote novels, poems, plays, radio dramas, and lively retellings of Dutch legends. His work helped bring folklore and storytelling to a wide audience in the Netherlands.
1 Audiobook
Nederlandsche Sagen en Legenden
by Josef Cohen
About the author
Born in Deventer on January 2, 1886, Josef Cohen became a Dutch author whose work ranged across novels, novellas, poetry, plays, and radio drama. He was also closely connected to the world of books as a librarian, and later served as director of the public library in Groningen.
Cohen was especially known for sharing stories rooted in Dutch tradition, including Nederlandsche Sagen en Legenden, a collection that helped preserve and popularize folklore for general readers. During his lifetime he was a familiar literary name in the Netherlands, admired for both his versatility and his gift for storytelling.
He died in Groningen on July 12, 1965. Although he is less widely known today than he was in his own era, his writing still offers a rich glimpse into Dutch literary life and the enduring appeal of legend, humor, and local history.