View source for Bruin, Claas (1671-1732)

Claas Bruin, born 20 February 1671, often preached in the [[Amsterdam (Noord-Holland, Netherlands)|Amsterdam]] Bloemstraat Old Frisian church where his father was minister. He was himself never ordained, although he had great gifts in that field. Until his death (1732) he was a bookkeeper in a commercial firm.

In his youth his manifold talents were evident. He devoted himself especially to writing poetry. His first attempt was the "De Aardbeving" in 1692. He was also fond of using Bible stories. In 1724 he published <em>Bijbelsche Tooneelpoëzy, </em>containing "Abrahams Offerhande," "Sauls dood," "Davids gestrafte hoogmoed." <em>Het leven van den Apostel Paulus, in dichtmaat afgebeelt, </em>appeared in 1734 in Amsterdam. The best known of his numerous works are two travel books in poetry, <em>Kleefsche en Zuid-Hollandsche Arkadia </em>(Amsterdam, 1716) and <em>Noordhollandsche Arkadia </em>(Amsterdam, 1732). He may also be the Claas Bruin who wrote a poem under each of the pictures of [[Haemstede, Adriaen Cornelis van (1525-1562)|Haemstede's]] <em>Historie der Martelaren </em>(Leiden, 1747). His poems were not particularly original or inspired, on the whole somewhat tedious, and their cumbersomeness will repel many a reader. But he was a skilled linguist, and as such is highly regarded by prominent men.
= Bibliography =
<em class="gameo_bibliography">Bijdragen tot boeken- en menschen-kennis</em>. Dordrecht, 1832-1836: II and III.

<em class="gameo_bibliography">Catalogus der werken over de Doopsgezinden en hunne geschiedenis aanwezig in de bibliotheek der Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente to Amsterdam</em>. Amsterdam: J. H. de Bussy, 1919<em class="gameo_bibliography">: </em>235.

Hege, Christian and Christian Neff. ''Mennonitisches Lexikon'', 4 vols. Frankfurt &amp; Weierhof: Hege; Karlsruhe; Schneider, 1913-1967<span class="gameo_bibliography">: </span>v. I, 286.

Kalff, Gerrut. <em class="gameo_bibliography">Geschiedenis der Nederlandsche letterkunde, </em>7 vols. The Hague, 1906-1912: v. V, 446-448, 512.

Molhuysen, P. C. and P. J. Blok. <em>Nieuw Nederlandsch Biografisch Woordenboek, </em>10 vols. Leiden, 1911-1937: v. VI, 223. Available online at <span class="link-external">[http://www.dbnl.org/titels/titel.php http://www.dbnl.org/titels/titel.php?id=molh003nieu00]</span>.

Wagenaar. <em class="gameo_bibliography"> Beschrijving van Amsterdam gevolgd, in eene geregelde Aauwyzing van de Sieraaden der publicke Gebouwen dier Stad zeer Dienstig voor ...</em> Amsterdam, 1790.
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