1802: Between gravity and jest

Exceptional

At first glance, Ernst en boert voor de XIXe eeuw, of almanach van beschaafde kundigheden [Gravity and Jest for the 19th Century, or Almanac of Cultivated Knowledge] appears to be no more than an ordinary literary almanac, with a rather plain calendar section and a sizeable miscellany. Nicely finished illustrations, mind you, and a bit thicker than other almanacs. Yet Ernst en boert is exceptional. It is the only Dutch almanac of which all the volumes were reprinted in their entirety.

Cheaper reprint

Ernst en boert was first published for the years 1801 through 1803 by the Amsterdam publishers Willem van Vliet and Johannes van der Hey. From 1805 to 1807, the three volumes were published anew, with new calendars, and this time by A.B. Saakes. Saakes justified the reissue with the explanation that the almanac had been received with general approval, but that many had not been able to buy it because it was too expensive. Saakes thought that the book could compete with foreign almanacs and deserved a second chance. He calculated the price at 25 stuivers, half the original price.

Positive comment

Saakes was not alone in his appreciation. The almanac also received positive comment in the magazine Algemeene Vaderlandsche Letter-oefeningen (1800, part I, pp. 567-568). 'This valuable undertaking is completely deserving of everyone's approval, encouragement and support.' The fact that an almanac was discussed at all in this influential journal was quite exceptional.

Arend Fokke Simonsz

Ernst en boert was the product of the prolific writer and orator Arend Fokke Simonsz (1755-1812). Fokke was completely familiar with the almanac genre. From 1778 to 1791 he had produced De nieuwe vaderlandsche almanach [The New National Almanac], and he had also contributed to the Dicht- en tooneelkundige almanach [Poetry and Theatre Almanac] and the Vaderlands zakboekje ter bevordering van wetenschappen en fraaije letteren, of almanak [National Pocketbook for the Advancement of Science and Fine Literature, or Almanac]. He was known by his contemporaries mainly for his role in Amsterdam cultural societies. He was a good and much sought-after speaker, and he always had a text at the ready so he could serve as a substitute for any society member who was scheduled to speak and failed to appear. He was a supporter of the ideals of the Enlightenment and was eager to teach his audiences something about reason and intellectual training. But he also noticed that dry, uninteresting discourses tended to achieve the opposite effect. So he decided to use humour in his civilizing offensive, and gave many of his texts an 'ironic-comic' tone.

Appreciation

Likewise with the almanac Ernst en boert. It contained breezily written, informative texts on the ancient past, philosophy and 'fine arts and letters'. Caricatures reinforced the almanac's humorous aspect. Appreciation for Fokke's approach did not last very long. Before half a century had passed his texts came to be regarded as out of date and even unpalatable.