Daniel Keel (1930-2011)
“Before anything else, we need a new age of Enlightenment. Our present political systems must relinquish their claims on truth, justice and freedom and have to replace them with the search for truth, justice, freedom and reason.”
The above text is from Friedrich Durrenmatt, one of the many authors that were proud to be published by Daniel Keel in Diogenes Verlag, founded in 1952 and one of the last independent publishing houses in Europe.
Daniel always fought for justice, freedom and reason…
Today, Sept 13, when I opened my email box, I just learnt that he passed away – to meet his wife Anna in Paradise. Normally writers don’t become too attached to publishers, but I did became attached to Daniel. I admired his sense of humor, his character, his commitment, his friendship.
In one of our dinners together, I mentioned Robert Louis Stevenson. I don’t remember Daniel’s answer, but I would like to end this post using a poem from Stevenson:
Is all fulfilled, and I
From sedentary life
Shall rouse me up to die,
Bury me low and let me lie
Under the wide and starry sky.
Joying to live, I joyed to die,
Bury me low and let me lie.
Clear was my soul, my deeds were free,
Honour was called my name,
I fell not back from fear
Nor followed after fame.
Bury me low and let me lie
Under the wide and starry sky.
Joying to live, I joyed to die,
Bury me low and let me lie.
Bury me low in valleys green
And where the milder breeze
Blows fresh along the stream,
Sings roundly in the trees –
Bury me low and let me lie
Under the wide and starry sky.
Joying to live, I joyed to die,
Bury me low and let me lie.
