10 Books from Holland - London Book Fair Issue Spring 2018 - Nederlands Letterenfonds
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10 Books
from Holland
London Book Fair Issue
N ederlands
letterenfonds
dutch foundation
for literature Spring 2018
2 Books from Holland
Frequently Asked Questions
10 Books from Holland? Who decides the contents? Do you subsidise production costs?
Our editors. We want to showcase the best fiction from the This is possible in the case of editions of poetry, illustrated
Netherlands for our audience of literary publishers. Most titles children’s books or graphic novels. For regular fiction and
have been published recently and have enjoyed good sales, non-fiction, we support translation costs only.
excellent reviews and one or more literary awards or nomina-
tions. Though sometimes one of these factors is enough. Equally We would like to invite a Dutch author for a promotional visit.
important is the question: ‘Does it travel?’ Our advisors talk to If you organise a good programme and offer the author
publishers from all over the world and while it is impossible to accommodation, we can cover the travel costs.
say with certainty which novels will travel where, we have the
expertise to make an educated guess. How to apply for the Amsterdam Fellowship.
Every September, we organise a fellowship (4 days) for publish-
At book fairs, do you talk about these books exclusively? ers and editors. We do not have an application procedure, but
While we like to discuss our catalogue, there are always other you can always send us an e-mail stating your interest.
titles: books that have just appeared or are about to come out or
books that just missed our selection. Our advisors read as much Individual Publisher’s Visits
fiction as they can. We host 8 to 10 publishers and editors per year on an individual
basis. Usually, these are great if you already have one or more
Do you work together with Dutch publishers and agents? Dutch authors on your list and would like to see them, combined
We keep each other informed about interest in titles and rights with a schedule of meetings.
sales. When we commission a sample translation, we usually
share the costs. However, we always make our own decisions, What’s Schwob?
and remain completely independent. Schwob.nl is a European network for forgotten or undiscovered
books, established and maintained by translators, publishers
How many books by one author will you support? and editors, researchers, readers and critics.
We can support one author with three books. If the author has
changed publishing houses, previous titles are not counted. Can I subscribe to Books from Holland?
Please leave your card at our stand, or send a message.
Are all books in your brochure eligible for a grant? All our past issues are available at www.letterenfonds.nl.
Yes they are, with a maximum subsidy of 100% of the translation
costs for classics and 70% for contemporary prose, based on Advisors Fiction
the actual fee paid by the publisher.
Are books that aren’t included in your brochure eligible?
As long as it’s a good literary title, it probably is. We make our
decisions based on three criteria: literary quality of the book,
status of the publishing house and quality of the translator.
You can always ask in advance if a book is eligible or not.
Barbara den Ouden Victor Schiferli
Can you help us find a translator? Eastern and Middle Europe, Scandinavia, German and
Mediterranean countries, English-language countries.
Lists of experienced translators are provided by e-mail.
Russia, Arabic world. Poetry
Graphic novels. v.schiferli@letterenfonds.nl
We want to work with somebody who is not on your list. b.den.ouden@letterenfonds.nl
Then we require a sample translation of 20 pages and the
translator’s CV. If the translation is good, the translator will be
added to our list. If the translation needs repair, we can make
suggestions. If the translation is beyond repair, you are advised
to hire somebody who is on our list.
How do we apply for a translation subsidy?
We need contracts with the rights holders and the translator, Tiziano Perez Alexandra Koch
plus the application form. You can submit digitally from our Managing director Schwob
website: http://www.letterenfonds.nl/en/translation-subsidy. Brazil, China, Japan. a.koch@letterenfonds.nl
Meetings are held six times a year, the dates are announced t.perez@letterenfonds.nl
on our website.
3 Books from Holland
Martin Michael Driessen
The Pelican
A surprising tragicomedy about two men who
keep each other in a stranglehold
Former opera and theatre director accident and Josip comes to his aid. Josip Publishing details
Martin Michael Driessen’s sixth book is discovers envelopes in Andrej’s house that De pelikaan (2017)
200 pp., 51,031 words
a comedy of errors about two men have been steamed open and realizes that
inescapably connected by a web of the postman has stolen posted money. Publisher
blackmail. As in his prize-winning story Josip then uses this information to Van Oorschot
collection Rivers, Driessen is a master of blackmail Andrej. Neither one has any Menno Hartman
inspiring empathy for individuals who idea who his tormentor could be; in fact, menno@vanoorschot.nl
www.vanoorschot.nl
take their fate into their own hands, the two of them become friends. This
usually with tragic consequences. personal drama with unexpected plot Rights
twists takes place against the background 2 Seas Agency
In Communist Yugoslavia in the late of the impending Balkan war, which drives Marleen Seegers,
1980s, pelicans and a clock museum are apart the village’s ethnic groups. The two marleen.seegers@2seasagency.com
the closest things to local attractions in a men’s mutual stranglehold is a metaphor
Rights Sold
sleepy town on the Adriatic coast. The two for the fault lines in the former Yugoslavia, US (Amazon Crossing, in
leading characters are Josip, the driver of where friends became enemies from one preparation).
the funicular, who has a disabled daughter day to the next.
and a deranged, nagging wife, and Andrej, No one in The Pelican is wholly good or Translated Titles
Rivieren [Rivers]: US (Amazon
an unmarried postman and nature photo evil. The characters’ backgrounds and
Crossing), Germany (Wagenbach),
grapher. On a walk in the mountains, motives are described in an intimate style Hungary (Gondolat), all in
Andrej sees Josip making love to his that enables readers to empathize with all preparation.
mistress. Andrej takes photographs and of them: ‘You always had expectations of Vader van god [Father of God]:
begins to blackmail Josip. other people, good or bad, and it was Italy (Del Vecchio, 2015).
The financial arrangements and Josip’s confusing when they did the opposite.’
misguided suspicions about his blackmail With skilful irony, Driessen gives malice
er’s identity lead to entertaining complica and misunderstanding a human face.
tions. But then Andrej is hurt in a traffic
‘Prose characterized by
craftsmanship,
imagination and an almost
old-fashioned pleasure in
storytelling, embedded in
an ingenious plot.’
– De Morgen
‘Driessen’s craftsmanship
is a sheer delight: like a
puppeteer, he makes his
characters run in circles
Martin Michael Driessen (b. 1954) is an opera around each other,
and theatre director, translator and author. He
suspecting a bit too much
made his debut in 1999 with the novel Gars,
followed by Father of God (2012) and A True
and discovering too little,
Hero (2013), all of which were acclaimed by the while showing his readers
press and nominated for literary prizes. His work the big picture through
has been translated into Italian, German and ingenious shifts in
Hungarian. His voluminous novel Lizzie (2015)
perspective.’
was written with the poet Liesbeth Lagemaat.
Rivers won the ECI Literature Prize in 2016. The
– NRC Handelsblad
Pelican has been shortlisted for the prestigious
Libris Literature Prize. Photo: Bob Bronshoff
4 Books from Holland
Maxim Februari
Lump
Erudite novel calling on us to surrender not to data, but to life
A great deal has been written about the ingly perplexed: ‘This is the sort of non Publishing Details
ever more radical ways in which data sense that people want to hear.’ There is no Klont (2017)
256 pp., 69,634 words
shapes our lives. The tone is either question of stopping, so he becomes ever
10,000 copies sold
optimistic and impressed or cynical more reckless in the statements he cuts
doom-and-gloom. Maxim Februari, one and pastes together. Rights
of the Netherlands’ sharpest, most Klein follows Krups, trying to get a grip Prometheus
multifaceted thinkers, has turned his on him, and on his own life, which has Ronit Palache
r.palache@pbo.nl
hand to the novel to explore at close quar- been derailed after he sent a suicide note
www.uitgeverijprometheus.nl
ters the influence of big data on a number by email but then changed his mind. His
of lives. The result is Lump. position at work is unsustainable and Translated Titles
things at home are not much better. Both De zonen van het uitzicht [The Sons
‘The lump was the enemy.’ So starts Klein and Krups are confronted with of the View]: Denmark (Politisk Revy,
1993).
Februari’s novel on the digital world in powers greater than themselves.
De literaire kring [The Book Club]:
which consumer data has piled up to form One of Krups’ disturbing messages to UK (Quercus, 2010).
an uncontrollable autonomous system. the world is that data renders novels De maakbare man [The Making of
Due to proliferating algorithms, users are obsolete. Lump proves the opposite: the a Man]: UK (Reaktion Books, 2015),
subject to the tyranny of the lump. Against novel is indispensable. By zooming in on Colombia (Icono, 2016), Turkey
(Güldünya, 2016).
this backdrop, Februari follows two Krups and Klein, Februari shows that their
characters: the charismatic Alexei Krups, personal lives cannot be reduced to data.
who enthusiastically applauds the endless The novel offers an erudite reflection on
possibilities, and technology expert Bodo modern developments. It is enhanced by
Klein, who is sent by the Minister of the essay style in which Februari excels
Security to shadow Krups. and by the intimate portrayal of characters
An inspirational speaker and prophet, who constantly find themselves off-balance
Krups proclaims the word on data, despite in an ever more grotesque world. The ‘Brilliant novel by Maxim
barely believing in it himself. When his message of Lump is that we should Februari on how to be a
message is taken seriously, making him a surrender not to data but to life itself. person in a “datafied” world.
prominent authority, he becomes increas Never before has he packaged
his quest in such witty,
sparkling and multifaceted
form.’ – de Volkskrant
‘Februari’s beautiful style,
powerful images and clear
character psychology make
Lump in its entirety a good
example of the book’s
message: that human
intelligence, love and
imagination are the only
medicine for twisted artificial
intelligence.’ – Trouw
Maxim Februari is a writer, columnist, lawyer
and philosopher. His novel The Sons of the View
(De zonen van het uitzicht) was published in
‘Februari is in complete con
1989. His major breakthrough came with The trol of his material and writes
Book Club (De literaire kring, 2007) which won with humour and imagination.
the Annie Romein-Verschoor Prize and was His novel aptly demonstrates
shortlisted for the Libris and Golden Owl
what Big Tech does to people.’
Literature Prizes and longlisted for the
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. In – NRC Handelsblad
2008 Februari received the Frans Kellendonk
Prize for his entire oeuvre. Photo: Bob Bronshoff
5 Books from Holland
Franca Treur
Now Hear My Voice
A Calvinist girl develops into an ambitious young
woman, unable to let go of her past
Religion plays a large part in Franca job. When she returns to Zeeland to look Publishing Details
Treur’s writing. In her new novel - after her sick aunt, she is back in the Hoor nu mijn stem (2017)
320 pp., 45,247 words
narrated in alternating chapters through bosom of the faith which she had aban
20,000 copies sold
the life of a growing girl and the grown- doned. This leads to crisis. She cannot
up woman she has become, Treur accept the loss of her lover, even though Rights
shows us liberation from faith and she had never really given him a chance. Prometheus
the emptiness that ensues. His loss now awakens a passion for him Ronit Palache
r.palache@pbo.nl
that she had not previously known.
www.uitgeverijprometheus.nl
When as a young girl Ina loses her parents, As in Treur’s previous novels, Now
she is taken to live with her grandfather Hear My Voice deals with the impossible Translated Titles
and his two sisters in the religiously situation of people who cannot submit to Dorsvloer vol confetti [Confetti on
fundamentalist countryside. God watches the discipline of faith and unconditional the Threshing Floor]. Brazil (Virgilae,
2012).
over all that she does and says. The outside surrender to God, and are left with an
world is held at bay, and with neither radio abyss of spiritual emptiness which is so
nor television allowed, it is the village typical of our society.
clergyman who dominates. Despite her Now Hear My Voice is a classic novel
doubts, as Ina grows up, she holds on to about an uprooted life, a sense of sin, and a ‘What is attractive about
her faith. At the same time, we read about distancing from childhood and faith. The the novel is the lack of any
her later life as Gina, her studies at climax of this memorably and evocatively sharp boundary between
university and how she makes the transi written story – when Gina’s aunt dies and the strict Calvinist and the
tion to a world without faith, even becom the narrator gives herself over to a series atheist life. Gina’s
ing the interviewer for a popular radio of reflections on the impossibility of a ambition, and her need for
programme. divine being – lends the book a special, applause, is quite a long
But then she unexpectedly loses in consoling power. way from the religious
quick succession her lover and then her devotion shown by Aunt
Ma, one of the elect. Yet her
aunt’s attitude is what Gina
must ultimately learn: to be
detached, to count neither
on success nor on love.
What ultimately matters
is beyond the devout’s
surrender to God: it is
everyone’s surrender to life.’
– De Groene Amsterdammer
‘A warm mixture of
compassion and nostalgia.
Her style in particular
deserves admiration,
especially in her way of
having different characters
Franca Treur (b. 1979) studied Dutch and
talk realistically. Her
literary theory at the University of Leiden. The
publication of her debut novel Confetti on the
sentences are invariably
Threshing Floor (2009) brought her unprec- worth not just reading but
edented success: it sold more than 150,000 mulling over. […] A homage
copies and won the Jan Bruijns prize and the to a lost faith, a lost
Selexyz prize for best debut. The film adaptation
childhood.’
premiered in 2014. Treur writes columns, essays
and short stories for various Dutch newspapers.
– PZC
Now Hear My Voice has been shortlisted by
NRC Handelsblad as best book of 2017. Photo: Annaleen Louwes
6 Books from Holland
Charlotte Mutsaers
Harness of Hansaplast
Lament for a brother who died lonely, and for an eccentric family
Charlotte Mutsaers’ new book is dedi- find anything to reproach us with.’ Publishing details
cated to ‘all members of the family I come Among the most chilling sections of the Harnas van Hansaplast (2017)
312 pp., 63,000 words
from and the house where we lived’. It is book are those in which the author
15,000 copies sold
an ambiguous declaration of love for a imagines her deceased brother being
parental nest that produced misfortune found by the police, who subsequently Publisher
and good fortune, mystery and undiluted ‘sweep up’ his body as Samsa does at the DasMag
misery; it is at once a testimony of loyalty end of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis. The Daniël van der Meer
daniel@dasmag.nl
and betrayal. passage through the rooms where he kept
www.dasmag.nl
his books, porn and comics is simultane
Every family has its extremes and its black ously a passage through their childhood Rights
sheep. Here the black sheep was Barend, home, presented as a haunted house, Cossee
the youngest in a family after two older covered in cobwebs, dust and litter. It is a Stella Rieck
rieck@cossee.com
sisters, A. and C. The underlying theme of house once dominated by a father who
www.cossee.com
this novel is outsiders. The Mutsaers preceded his children in a radical kind of
family, living in a large house in the courage – ‘Make sure you can fend for Translated Titles
historic centre of Utrecht, could not have yourselves, or you’ll be crushed by the Rachels rokje [Rachel’s Skirt].
been more eccentric. The writer herself hordes.’ Germany (Hanser, 1997,
Droemer Knaur 2002).
talks of a ‘bizarre lineage’, one which had Now the two remaining sisters pace up
Kersenbloed [Cherry Blood].
fatal consequences, ‘that prevented us and down, nervously rubbing their hands, Germany (Hanser, 2001).
from developing the ability to take life at swinging between fear, revulsion, rage and Koetsier herfst [Coachman Autumn].
its word.’ pity, one with shoulders drooping so low Germany (Hanser, 2011).
In one of her essays Mutsaers has that the other thinks she needs shoulder
written that Kafka would probably never pads, the other eager to put on a dress she
have written The Metamorphosis if he had wore at the age of eighteen, proud that it
had a loving beetle for a little sister. After can still fit. Amidst the mess there emerges
all, what words does he put into the mouth a shaky monument to a family and its ‘While going through her
of Gregor’s sister, once Gregor has changed youngest offshoot, a boy, a man, who must parental home – clothes,
into a beetle? ‘Dear parents, this cannot have lived an indescribably lonely life. crockery, paintings,
continue. Perhaps you haven’t realised this, ‘How to live, that’s what it’s always about,’ thousands of books –
but I have. I do not wish to address this writes his sister, no more a beetle than her Mutsaers reconstructs her
vermin by my brother’s name, so I will only brother, but a deeply kindred spirit: ‘How childhood. She writes about
say that we must attempt to get rid of him. to live when life will irrevocably abandon her family with amazement,
We have tried everything to care for and you and the only weapon against tears is a love (for her father) and
tolerate him; I do not believe anyone could clean handkerchief.’ unconcealed reluctance
(about her mother). An
extraordinary novel about
the thin line between success
and life as an outcast.’
– HP De Tijd
‘In this playful book, the
75-year-old Peter Pan of
Dutch literature juggles fact
Charlotte Mutsaers (b. 1942) is an author and
visual artist who has published five novels and
and fiction while writing a
several collections of essays and poetry. Best loving tribute to her deceased
known for her novels Rachel’s Skirt (1994) brother. The insights are
and Coachman Autumn (2009), she has sometimes as frivolous as the
won numerous literary awards, including the
language, both refreshing
prestigious P.C. Hooftprijs for her complete
works. She is widely considered one of the most
and colourful.’ – HUMO
striking and surprising voices in contemporary
Dutch literature. Photo: Keke Keukelaar
7 Books from Holland
Thomas Verbogt
How It All Had to Start
When you discover the love of your life too soon
Thomas Verbogt plays a Modiano-like find they’ve grown apart. They quarrel; Publishing details
game with the past. Through a descrip- they make love; and when they say good Hoe alles moest beginnen (2017)
240 pp., 45,247 words
tion of a photograph and snatches of bye, they both know the connection
15,000 copies sold
conversation, he summons a vanished between them is still there. It’s just that
past while sketching the outlines of a there’s ‘much too much world’ around Rights
future that would never come to pass. them. Nieuw Amsterdam
They meet twice more, once when he’s Marije Braat
mbraat@nieuwamsterdam.nl
A walk in the park, the smell of ‘the day nearing forty and for the last time when
www.nieuwamsterdam.nl
that has just begun’, a street musician’s he’s sixty-three. Although the years bring
melodies – for 65-year-old Thomas, this a degree of resignation, his pain at the loss Translated titles
experience brings back memories of his of what might have been stays with him all Als de winter voorbij is [When
bond with Licia at the age of six. his life. It doesn’t take much to make the Winter Is Over]. Germany (Aufbau,
in preparation).
In a photograph, he sees himself with feeling flare up again, like a heath fire that
Licia and her parents, not long before her never goes out.
mother’s death. Thomas and Licia had just Verbogt suggests more than he says
met. He hears the words they said to each outright. Thomas leaves many questions
other then, their certainty about how to unanswered, sowing seeds of doubt about
build their friendship. They turned the his reliability as a narrator and telling his
world around them into a world of story as if feeling his way in the dark. The
their own. reader must decide whether and how to fill
Their happiness was cut short when in the gaps. The author’s keen awareness
Licia’s father moved to Italy with his new of light, colour and fragrance makes this
partner and Licia. Eight years later, Licia delicate, dreamy novel a feast for the
invited Thomas to visit her in Rome. It senses.
had seemed unthinkable that anything
would ever come between them, yet they
‘Everything – dream and
reality, present and past –
is full of life and light in
Verbogt’s work. [...] Read
Verbogt. It will make you
happy.’
– Het Parool
Thomas Verbogt (b. 1952) debuted in 1981
‘Verbogt is the kind of writer
with The Gala Night, a collection of short stories. who, without ever growing
Since then he has written many novels, plays and tiresome, can scatter
story collections. As his body of work has grown, insightful life lessons
so has his audience. His novel When Winter Is
throughout his books.’
Over was shortlisted for the Libris Literature
Prize in 2016 and translated into German.
– Elsevier
Verbogt is most admired for his light, melancholy
tone and his cinematic style of narration. Photo Amke
8 Books from Holland
Joost de Vries
Old Masters
An adventure novel about two intellectual brothers
with a fateful predilection for the past
The greatest tragedy in the lives of the Willem Verdelius, he feels less comfort Publishing details
two brothers Edmund and Sieger van able than ever with the changing priorities Oude meesters (2017)
303 pp., 80,215 words
Zeeland, is that they were born in the of the editorial staff. Dismayed by the
4,000 copies sold
wrong century. In every other way, they changes, he complains, ‘Why doesn’t
are privileged: intelligent, gallant men anyone want to write about majorities Publisher
who need no one but themselves. They anymore? Lord knows there are a lot more Prometheus
both stumble into adventures that put of those.’ As everyone is searching for him, Ronit Palache
r.palache@pbo.nl
their self-sufficiency to the test. he goes to Berlin, where he witnesses an
www.uitgeverijprometheus.nl
attack on a notorious Russian politician
The story opens in Malta, where Edmund, and art collector. Sieger’s investigation of Rights
a millionaire, delights in the historic the Russian’s role takes him to Ukraine, Alexandra McNicoll
buildings. His motto is a quote from John where he finds a scoop he doesn’t want to alexandra.mcnicoll@amheath.com
Banville: ‘The past beats inside me like a share with anyone.
Translated Titles
second heart.’ He has come to the island Like Joost de Vries’s earlier work, Old De republiek [The Republic]: UK
nation in search of Sarie, his brother Masters is an effervescent cocktail of satire (Arcadia), US (Other Press),
Sieger’s wife, who works as a costume and suspense. But in this novel, he adds a Germany (Heyne), Catalan and
designer on a historical TV drama. tragic note: the main characters’ nostalgic Spanish (Anagrama), Estonian
(Varrak), French (Plon), Greek
Edmund hopes that she’ll point him to yearnings are constantly tripping them up
(Metaixmio), Korean (Hyundae
the whereabouts of his missing brother in the modern world. To make things Munhak), Turkish (Domingo).
Sieger, but meanwhile, he finds himself worse, they seem unable to empathise with
nearly falling in love with her. He follows others or feel connected to some higher
her to Spain and Cuba and buys his way power. These failings are brought home to
onto the series as an extra. This cinematic them by the women in their life. ‘The brothers build up a
adventure comes to an abrupt end when, In a highly entertaining and moving personal past, their own
due to Edmund’s actions, the star of the style, Joost de Vries describes the experi edifice of memories. That
show has a serious accident that brings the ence of the white male intellectual whose makes Old Masters not
filming to a halt. relevance can no longer be taken for merely a nostalgic
Sieger works as a magazine reporter. granted. spectacle, but a deeply
After the death of his boss and mentor human novel. Life itself,
here and now – that will
have to be enough, as the
brothers learn from harsh
experience. Fleeing into
the past won’t work
anymore, and in fact it
never did.’
– Het Parool
‘Again, Joost de Vries
has woven a series of
coincidences into an
ingenious, glittering web.
Old Masters reminds
Joost de Vries (b. 1983) studied journalism and
me strongly of Anthony
history in Utrecht. Since 2007 he has been an Burgess’s Earthly Powers
editor and literary critic at De Groene Amster- […] because both offer
dammer. He burst onto the Dutch literary scene a brilliant display of
with Clausewitz (2010), a biblio-thriller inspired
highbrow entertainment.’
by the work of one of his great heroes, Harry
Mulisch. In 2013 he was awarded the Charlotte
– Trouw
Köhler Stipendium, and his second novel The
Republic won the Golden Owl Award in 2014. Photo: Keke Keukelaar
9 Books from Holland
Marieke Lucas Rijneveld
The Discomfort of the Evening
Intense, poetic debut about the daughter in a God-fearing
family coming to terms with the loss of her brother.
In this fine debut novel, Marieke Lucas God, she dreams of ‘the other side’ and of Publishing details
Rijneveld forces us to look at exactly redemption. In short, the novel is about De avond is ongemak (2018)
272 pp., 77,323 words
what is seen, felt and tasted, not from a her vain attempt to be rescued.
40,000 copies sold
distancing helicopter perspective, but We are not permitted to regard the
from close up, breathtakingly close up. intense adolescent Jas from a distance, as Rights
The Discomfort of the Evening takes the if observing some pathological case. No, Atlas Contact
reader into an oppressive and repulsive we are deeply involved with her and we Hayo Deinum
hdeinum@atlascontact.nl
world where detail is what matters. shudder. The novel is bursting with apt,
www.atlascontact.nl
sharp, gruesome, and sometimes funny
Jas is mourning her dead brother, who images. Rijneveld lays everything bare.
drowned while skating. She is in the Thank goodness for those funny images
no-man’s-land between childhood and which give some relief and allow us to
adulthood, and it is through her eyes that laugh! Broccoli florets are mini-Christmas
we see how the other members of her trees, Jas’ mother’s withered breasts are
family deal with the loss. Jas feels totally like the collection bags in church. Rijne
misunderstood, she invokes her brother veld has written a daringly depressing
through strange rituals, she abandons novel, which can lead to sombre, self-
herself to compulsive erotic games, she pitying reflection. But what powerful
sees her parents as threatening, she resorts writing, what a hunger for images, what ‘The deluge of images that
to torturing animals, she fantasises about a courageous writer. Rijneveld unleashes on us is
original, witty, sombre and
necessary. This is how the
story must be told, and in no
other way… [the ending] hit
me in the chest like a straight
left. It goes on reverberating
there.’ – Trouw
‘Rijneveld is not becoming a
great writer. She is one
already.’ – Humo
‘The child’s world of Jas is
often pitch-black and scary,
but fortunately she is liberal
with sparkling, witty
imagery… Rijneveld closes
her story in grandiose and
determined fashion, while
little Jas on the contrary
opens something. What
remain are shivers down the
spine, astonishment and
Marieke Lucas Rijneveld (b. 1991) made her
discomfort.’
début as a poet in 2015 with the collection – Algemeen Dagblad
Kalfsvlies (Calf’s Caul), awarded the C.
Buddingh’ Prize for the best poetry debut, and ‘Book of the Month’
reprinted several times. She won the Hollands
– DWDD Book Sellers’ Panel
Maandblad Incentive Bursary 2014/2015 and
the C.C.S. Crone Stipendium 2015. The
(1,5 million viewers)
Volkskrant proclaimed her the literary talent
of 2016. Photo: Jouk Oosterhof
10 Books from Holland
Jannah Loontjens
Who Knows
A mosaic novel about a dinner party
that takes a catastrophic turn
Amsterdam, January 2015, the eve of a students – men and women alike – and Publishing details
major protest march in response to the who, in a drunken haze, climbs under the Wie weet (2018)
224 pp., 56,088 words
attack on Charlie Hebdo. Eight friends covers with Liv. When they’re found there,
and family members are dining together. the ensuing fight brings the group’s Publisher
Subtle, telling descriptions reveal the suppressed conflicts to the surface. Ambo Anthos
tensions between the people at the table, All the characters are struggling to find Laurens Ubbink
exploring the fabric of today’s multicul- their way in today’s multicultural society. lubbink@amboanthos.nl
www.amboanthos.nl
tural European society. Peace-loving Manon is accused of racism
when she asks Liv’s headmaster to talk to Rights
A dinner party in a fashionable house – but the bullies in the school chat group, ‘and it Shared Stories
beneath the veneer of warmth and hospi just so happens they all come from Christel Meijer,
tality, trouble is brewing. Short chapters, immigrant families’. Her student Besma christel@sharedstories.nl
www.sharedstories.nl
each one named after the person whose doesn’t feel welcome among the student
perspective it describes, shed light on the activists, as a Muslim with a headscarf, but Translated titles
true relationships and frictions between decides to join their protest anyway. Paul Misschien wel niet [Possibly Not].
the characters. feels abandoned by his Somali girlfriend Denmark (Turbine), Hungarian
The arrogant stockbroker Paul is Ablah, who has always been a fierce (Typotex).
ashamed of his sensitive brother, the park opponent of Islam but won’t take part in
keeper Philip, and vice versa. Manon, the Charlie Hebdo march.
Paul’s ex-wife, teaches at a university on Who Knows offers a fascinating slice of
the verge of a student uprising, and their contemporary urban life. All the charac
twelve-year-old daughter Liv is being ters wrestle with issues like social status,
teased in her class’s online chat group. identity, prejudice and the desire to
Mohammed, Manon’s new flame, is belong. Loontjens adeptly shows how
assumed to be a Muslim by the people people who live together often fail to
around him, even though he’s non-reli understand each other, yet still feel ‘A novel with so many
gious. And then there’s Justus, a teacher connected. characters always
with a habit of jumping into bed with his presents the author with
a tremendous problem:
how to introduce them
all without resorting to
mini-biographies, and how
to make sure the reader
can keep track of who’s
who. Loontjens has found
an exceptionally neat
solution. She simply tells
her story, and thanks to
a detail here and a brief
allusion there, the puzzle
pieces fall into place.’
– Knack
‘Loontjens’ work teems
with freshness and
originality. Her brand-new
fourth novel is an incisive
Jannah Loontjens (b. 1974) is a philosopher
reflection on our age.’
and writer. Her earlier novels include Good Luck
(2007), How Late (2011), Actually (2014) and
– De Morgen
But Then Again. Her work has been translated
into Danish and Hungarian. Photo: Martin Dijkstra11 Books from Holland
Kasper van Beek
Recollection
An ingeniously constructed thriller about missing memories
Kasper van Beek’s debut is an impressive, flirts with Liesbeth. The flirtation, and Publishing details
well constructed thriller. A man is Carolien’s complaints about it, are too Vogelvrij (2018)
288 pp., 72,415 words
confronted with a photo of himself with much for Olaf, who walks out of the party.
another man, who looks completely Outside, he runs into Mila from the IT Publisher
unfamiliar to him. His search for department, who tells him about a discov Cargo
answers sends him on a mysterious ery she’s made. Her casual remark is all Chris Kooi
journey from Amsterdam to Helsinki. Olaf needs to ‘connect the dots’. His dislike c.kooi@debezigebij.nl
of his wife and relatives and his doubts
Rights
Olaf appears largely indifferent to his own about his company’s integrity fall into Marijke Nagtegaal
life. He is married to Liesbeth and works place. He starts to suspect what may have m.nagtegaal@debezigebij.nl
in his father-in-law’s business. As if he caused his nightmares, which are set in a Uta Matten
were just passing through, he observes snow-covered landscape and always u.matten@debezigebij.nl
www.debezigebij.nl
what goes on around him but never for one involve birds and drops of blood.
moment feels involved. He does what’s Soon afterwards, he is sent a photo
expected of him and doesn’t ask too many graph of himself with a man he doesn’t
questions. recognize. Then he finds recordings of his
His apathetic attitude seems to stem psychiatric sessions in his father-in-law’s
from a car crash a few years earlier, which home office, and Mila’s neighbour is
sent him flying through the windscreen. murdered for no apparent reason. This
At least, that’s what he’s been told. He can’t series of events forces him to seize control
remember much about it. For months of his life. With Mila’s help, he goes in
afterwards he was in a coma, which search of the truth. As they travel north,
damaged his memory. His weekly sessions they are followed by company employees;
with his psychiatrist don’t help Olaf or no place is safe. In this accomplished
enable him to engage with life. debut, Van Beek makes deft use of small,
Jacob, the husband of Liesbeth’s sister unexpected plot twists to keep delaying
Carolien, also works for the family the final revelation. The reader remains in
business. At the traditional party to mark suspense until the very last page.
the publication of the annual report, he
‘An unmatched dream
debut, featuring terrific
Kasper van Beek (b. 1985) is a film and characters and a unique
television producer and the co-founder of two
plot with international
production companies involved in a wide range
of national and international projects. He lives
appeal.’ – Tomas Ross
and works in Amsterdam. Recollection is his
debut. Photo: Tessa Posthuma de Boer12 Books from Holland
Thé Tjong-Khing & Lo Hartog van Banda
Iris, a Novel for the Eye
Playful eroticism represented in virtuoso lines and
psychedelic colours
Thé Tjong-Khing’s Iris, a Novel for the Eye megastar, which leaves Mark and the rest Publishing details
marked the peak of his career as a of his lot having to make do with the Iris (1968)
160 pp., 4,250 words
cartoonist. He and scriptwriter Lo merchandise: life-sized (sex) dolls of Iris.
Hartog van Banda were looking for a way Attempts to rescue Iris come to nothing; Rights
to reach the hearts of the socially moti- all they do is to allow the dream lover to go Sherpa
vated young people of the late 1960s, who on playing his games. Mat Schifferstein
were growing up with comic strips and Khing’s style in Iris shows some affinity mat@sherpa.nu
television. Khing’s drawings are there- with his contemporary, the late Flemish
fore more dominant than Hartog van illustrator Guy Peellaert, and the whiff of
Thé Tjong-Khing (b.1933) studied
Banda’s texts. eroticism which surrounds Iris is some
for three years at art school in
what reminiscent of Barbarella, her Bandung, Indonesia. In 1956 he
The characters’ emotions in this graphic contemporary French heroine. came to the Netherlands, where he
novel drive the compelling, dystopian Iris, drawn with virtuoso élan, is the worked at the studio of the most
story. The young woman Iris has set her earliest graphic novel produced in the celebrated Dutch cartoonist, Marten
Toonder. Until the end of the 1960s
heart on a career as a singer, and, despite Netherlands. Hartog van Banda and Thé
he mainly drew comics like the
boyfriend Mark’s warnings, allows herself Tjong-Khing could be said to have discov Arman & Ilva series, with Iris (1968)
to be seduced by the capitalist producer, ered the genre all by themselves. the high point. Then followed a rich
‘dream lover M.G.’. He moulds her into a career as a children’s book illustra-
tor. Thé Tjong-Khing has received
many prizes for his work, including
the Max Velthuijs Prize for his
children’s book oeuvre.
Strip author Lo Hartog van Banda
(1916-2006) also worked for
Toonder Studios and wrote stories
for the Lucky Luke series.
Photo: Pieter van Oudheusden13 Books from Holland
Successful Titles
Making a Splash on the International Literary Market
A thrilling, probing novel about the A moving elegy for a friendship between
dark truth behind a family legend two boys in the former Dutch East Indies
Marjolijn van Heemstra Hella S. Haasse
And His Name Is Oeroeg
(En we noemen hem) 1,500,000 copies sold
15,000 copies sold
Winner BNG Bank Rights: Jolijn Spooren,
Literatuurprijs 2017 j.spooren@singeluitgeverijen.nl
Shortlisted for the Libris Rights sold: Czech Republic (Plus),
Literature Prize 2018 France (Actes Sud), Germany
(Lilienfeld Verlag), Indonesia
Rights: Stella Rieck (Padasan), Italy (Iperborea), Japan
rieck@cossee.com (Sakuhinsha), UK (Portobello Books)
Rights sold: Germany (Hoffmann
& Campe), US (Atria), France
(Les Escales), Italy (Rizzoli),
Spain (Seix Barral)
‘Together with the purity of
the restrained, crystal prose,
‘A stirring, electrifying story, ‘An exquisite novel about the the quality of this book lies in ‘Even now, when the colonial
packed with keen observa- importance of myths and the the subtlety with which it era is behind us, the emo-
tions about myth and necessity of unravelling exposes the xenophobia and tions and narration reaches
narrative.’ them.’ hidden racism of both sides.’ our heart directly.’
– Trouw – Tommy Wieringa – La Repubblica – Yomiuri
A must-read for anyone who has ever A moving and majestic novel about a lost
had colleagues, or still has them soul who emerges from the shadows
Paulien Cornelisse Tommy Wieringa
The Office Life of a Guinea Pig Saint Rita
(De verwarde cavia) (De heilige Rita)
120,000 copies sold 110,000 copies sold
Shortlisted for the Libris Literature
Rights: Marleen Seegers, Prize 2018
marleen.seegers@2seasagency.com
Rights sold: Germany (Beck), Rights: Marijke Nagtegaal,
Portugal (Guerra e Paz), Poland m.nagtegaal@debezigebij.nl,
(Muza) Uta Matten,
u.matten@debezigebij.nl
Rights sold: UK (Scribe), France
(Stock), Hungary (Jelenkor), Italy
(Iperborea), Norway (Gyldendal),
‘Miniature scenes of life at the Sweden (Brombergs)
office, centered around the
stapler and the pantry. It’s a ‘Wieringa’s best novel. His style is
habitat which distinguishes itself ‘All of us are guinea pigs more powerful and denser than ‘A major novel and a feast
by its patheticness and futility. in the laboratory of God. ever before. An ode to the Twente for the senses, written with
So realistic that it gradually Humanity is just a work in countryside, as well as a funny and unparalleled stylistic precision
becomes more than just satire.’ progress.’ poignant plea for compassion.’ in hallucinating language.’
– NRC Handelsblad – Tennessee Williams – Trouw – de Volkskrant14 Books from Holland
Recent Translations This is a selection of recently published
translations from the Dutch. For more information
please go to our online database of translations
en.vertalingendatabase.nl
H.M. van den Brink Peter Buwalda Esther Gerritsen
Dijk Bonita Avenue Brother
Ein Leben nach Maß Bonita Avenue Der große Bruder
Translated into German by Helga van Translated into Afrikaans by Zandra Translated into German by Gregor Hens for
Beuningen for Hanser, 2018. Bezuidenhout for Protea Boekhuis, 2017. Aufbau, 2018.
Arnon Grunberg Herman Koch Kim van Kooten
Blue Mondays The Ditch Darling
[Amsterdamski blus] Der Graben Petit cœur
Translated into Bulgarian by Maria Encheva Translated into German by Christiane Kuby Translated into French by Isabelle Rosselin
for Colibri, 2018. and Herbert Post for Kiepenheuer & Witsch, for Calmann-Lévy, 2018.
2018.15 Books from Holland
Ernest van der Kwast
Marga Minco Margriet de Moor
Giovanna’s Navel and
Bitter Herbs At First Sight
four more stories
A erva amarga Au premier regard
Translated into English by Laura Vroomen Translated into Portuguese by Maria Júlia Translated into French by Françoise Antoine
for Scribe, 2018. Abreu de Souza for Editora Record, 2018. for Grasset, 2018.
Harry Mulisch Connie Palmen Inge Schilperoord
The Assault You Said It Tench
[De aanslag] Ti si rekel No volverá a pasar
Translated into Arabic by Amina Abed Translated into Slovenian by Mateja Seliškar Translated into Spanish by Goedele de
for Al Karma, 2017. Kenda for Modrijan, 2018. Sterck for Catedral, 2018.Books from Holland
Michael Martin Driessen Joost de Vries
The Pelican Old Masters
Maxim Februari Marieke Rijneveld
Lump The Discomfort of the Evening
Franca Treur Jannah Loontjens
Now Hear My Voice Who Knows
Charlotte Mutsaers Kasper van Beek
Harness of Hansaplast Recollection
Thomas Verbogt Thé Tjong King
How It All Had to Start Iris, a Novel for the Eye
Books from Holland
is distributed to international
editors and publishers. Please
contact us if you would like to
be included on our mailing list.
Editors
Dick Broer, Barbara den Ouden,
Tiziano Perez, Victor Schiferli
Contributions
Obe Alkema, Esmé van den Boom,
Dick Broer, Marlies Hoff, Barbara
den Ouden, Victor Schiferli,
Ward Wijndelts
Some texts in this brochure
were based on reviews by
Kees ’t Hart and Marja Pruis
(De Groene Amsterdammer).
Translation
Anna Asbury, David McKay,
Paul Vincent
Cover Image
Victor Schiferli
www.flickr.com/victorschiferli
N ederlands Postbus /PO Box 16588
NL – 1001 RB Amsterdam
letterenfonds t +31 (0)20 520 73 00 Printing
dutch foundation post@letterenfonds.nl
www.letterenfonds.nl
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for literature Design
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