10 Books from Friesland
ederlands N letterenfonds dutch foundation for literature 2016 2 10 Books from Friesland
This Is What We Share
This year the Netherlands and Flanders are guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
The Dutch Foundation for Literature, which is As an introduction to the variety that Dutch and Frisian organizing the related events along with the Flemish literature have to offer, we’ve collected together a batch Literature Fund, stimulates the dissemination and of new and exciting titles that we’d like to present to you. promotion of Dutch- and Frisian-language literature In our various brochures you’ll find novels, non-fiction, worldwide. We’re presenting our authors under the children’s and young adult literature, and graphic novels. heading ‘This Is What We Share’. More than seventy These are the stories we share. Ultimately it’s not about writers in different genres will be making public our language or our country: let it be the stories that appearances at the Fair. Naturally we’re proud of the convince you. more than 250 translations of Dutch-language titles that are appearing in German as a result of the choice Here, now, in Frankfurt, or later, elsewhere in the world: of the Netherlands and Flanders as guest of honour, Wilkommen. and they will be receiving huge attention from the media and the reading public this autumn.
Barbara den Ouden Tiziano Perez Agnes Vogt Alexandra Koch Fiction – France, Italy, Spain, Managing Director Children’s Books and YA Schwob (Modern Classics), Eastern Europe, Latin America, Fiction – Brazil, China, Japan [email protected] Frisian Literature Russia, Graphic Novels [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Are you looking for a translation grant? A Dutch translator? Advice on a specific book you are considering? Rights information? Our colleagues will be
happy to help you further. Victor Schiferli Thomas Möhlmann Mireille Berman Fiction – Germany, UK and US, Poetry, Fiction in the Arab World Non-Fiction Scandinavia, Israel, South Africa [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] For an online catalogue of Dutch books in translation: www.vertalingendatabase.nl. 3 10 Books from Friesland Froon Akker Einum
Meandering voices of a disappearing village
In Einum Froon Akker sings the praises In every chapter of the novel, Froon Akker Publishing details of life in a village where on the face of gives one of the villagers a voice of their Einum (2012) 311 pp., 79,420 words it little happens. In reality it only seems own, in meandering sentences in which that way. The surroundings are cheerless an occasional comma allows the reader Publisher and tragedy far from unknown, but Einum to draw breath amid the torrent of pen Elikser is also a novel full of social sensitivity, etrating thoughts. Jitske Kingma warmth and empathy. At first we have the impression that [email protected] these are all separate stories, but gradually Translation In the fictional, unsightly, depopulating the relationships between the characters Einum (2015) village of Einum, somewhere below the take shape and the stories interlock. There sea dyke on Friesland’s Wadden Sea coast, is much visible and invisible suffering, and live a handful of villagers. life in Einum wounds and scars, it seeps The blonde Casper performs ‘play away, but from time to time there is some ground duty’ at night and – although thing light, something funny, something married – is actually attracted to school beautiful – there is life. boys. The little girl Agnetha, named after Akker has a surprising way the singer from ABBA, falls in love with of linking together protracted common Jente, a fellow villager of the same age with places with unavoidable strokes of fate. a scooter and a passion for bird spotting. Something mysterious lurks between the Old Rindert, a farmer dependent on lines and the tension slowly builds. In 2015 homecare services and on his nephew and the book was awarded the Gysbert Japicx his nephew’s wife, who work for him and Prize. According to the jury, ‘in eighteen ‘Ingenious writing secretly have their eye on his farm. Finally subtly shifting “shots”, unspoken thoughts, style in which thoughts there's Alie, suffering from dementia and loneliness and dreams pay sensitive tribute and actions are linked looked after by her loving husband, who is to a depopulating countryside. And if one together in a stream of close to exhaustion. The background to thing becomes clear, then it is that Einum conversations.’ their stories is the planned demolition of is not confined to Friesland.’ – Doeke Sijens, a large number of houses, which upsets Leeuwarder Courant the whole village. ‘His prose strikes like a meteorite. What a gem of a book.’ – Sjoerd Bottema, De Moanne
‘A unique reading experience. Unique not only because these simple, ordinary-seeming people come so vividly and multidimensionally alive but also because of the author’s decision to cast Koos Tiemersma (b. 1952) made his name with a number of novels in the Frisian language, much of his prose in an including his debut, De ljedder (The Ladder, unusual style of minimal 2001), which won him the Rink van der Velde punctuation.’ Prize and was also published in Dutch. Under the – Henry Baron, pseudonym Froon Akker he switched to writing World Literature Today e-books, which he markets on various sites including his own. In 2015 his novel Einum (2012) won him the most prestigious Frisian literary award, the Gysbert Japicx Prize. Photo: Niels Westra 4 10 Books from Friesland Anne Feddema Cheet a h ’s Tea rs
A sense of absurdity makes life bearable – more or less
Life is disenchanting, that’s the message Feddema sprinkles his stories with puns, Publishing details of Cheetah’s Tears. The stories in this stylistic capers, bits of fun that are some De triennen fan Cheetah (2014) 208 pp., 42,400 words collection touch upon the futility of times feeble and sometimes clever, and human dealings. The vicissitudes of fate absurdism with a touch of dada. With Publisher defeat the strivings and ambitions of great storytelling talent he leads us into Afûk the main characters, but imagination, a world of nonsensical theatre, where we Ernst Bruinsma humour and a sense of absurdity make may, despite everything, find ourselves [email protected] existence easier to bear. It is these that identifying with characters such as turn Cheetah’s Tears into a book that German teacher Hofman, who travels treads lightly and is often hilarious. to Berlin to put flowers on the grave of romantic writer Hoffmann only to become Born in, and firmly attached to, the caught up in filming of the German provincial city of Leeuwarden, Anne detective series Tatort and find himself Feddema needs only his bookcase and playing a corpse, a role with which he then his imagination to somersault through converges. cultural history. In ever-changing settings, However entertaining the twenty-seven his main characters, who in their own lives stories may be, they have a tragic undertone. barely rise above anonymity, meet icons Disappointment and failure are the lot of of both high-brow and popular culture. the main characters. The true human A young painter from Leeuwarden travels condition frequently seems to be laughed to Murnau to visit Kandinsky, a would-be off in the collection, but ultimately even writer commits lewd acts in a public toilet Cheetah, Tarzan’s chimpanzee, surprises with someone he takes to be Rilke, and his keeper by being able to cry. two men from Leeuwarden, who bear a ‘The author is both an resemblance to Laurel and Hardy, stroll award-winning painter into a fairytale by the brothers Grimm. and poet. The vivid details, poetic touches, and allusions in these stories attest to that: Kandinsky, Ensor, Munch, Hoffmann, Goethe, Grimm, Pushkin, Doctor Zhivago, and others.’ – World Literature Today
‘Cheetah’s Tears is a balanced and intelligently written collection, in which Feddema proves himself to be one of The multitalented Anne Feddema (b. 1961) Friesland’s most original came to widespread attention as an artist, with artists.’ expressive paintings that make frequent refer- – Friesch Dagblad ence to European cultural history. As a writer he made his debut in 1997 with the poetry collection Slapstickiepenbierings (Slapstick Revelations). ‘The reader can’t help For his collection Reidhintjse op’e Styx (Moorhens feeling jealous of so on the Styx) he was awarded the most prestigious much imagination.’ Frisian literary award, the Gysbert Japicx Prize, – Friese-literatuursite and for De triennen fan Cheetah (Cheetah’s Tears) the Rink van der Velde Prize. As well as Frisian, Feddema also writes in the dialect of his home city, Leeuwarden. Photo: Jacob van Essen 5 10 Books from Friesland Josse de Haan The Frog Years
A fascinating, colourful book about a peculiar, somewhat unholy trinity
The cover of the book says ‘novel’, but It is Josse de Haan’s masterpiece, purely Publishing details according to the subtitle this is a ‘gro- and simply a hybrid novel that comes Piksjitten op Snyp (1999) 510 pp., 232,050 words tesque or essay’. The first chapter is screaming out of the bend, a poetic, headed ‘The woman with the weekend insistent, pornographic and compelling Publisher arms’. We are introduced to De Grutsk book. Particularly penetrating and moving Elikser (The Great), one-time poet and teacher, are the musings and experiences of De Jitske Kingma who is writing a book about his child- Lytsk (The Little), a boy from Snyp, an [email protected] hood in Friesland and what happened anagram of the village of Peins near Translation next. Franeker, where De Haan was born. Kikkerjaren (Piksjitten op Snyp, The author succeeds in summoning up Meulenhoff, 1999) De Grutsk is not yet completely down and a convincing picture of a small rural out. He’s receiving psychiatric treatment, community by putting himself in the place getting a divorce, arguing with practically of the rather fretful little boy and looking everyone, drinking too much and living in from there at the incomprehensible and the Big City, in other words Amsterdam. often horribly cruel world. He watches video tapes about ‘the old De Haan excels at coarse and shameless country’ and engages nine prostitutes, love scenes involving the same boy at an making them dress up and behave like older age, after he becomes De Grutsk. He women and girls he once knew in Fries pulls no punches and the language is plain land. and unvarnished. In Frisian literature this So this did not turn out as an ordinary is pioneering. He has his characters book. From time to time De Grutsk enters discuss the pornographic scenes he has into a debate with the author. In between just served up to his readers. Ironic indeed. there are digressions on the subject of This is an extraordinary and irresistible literature, socialist education, the connec book that occupies a unique place in tion between sperm and literature, Frisian literature, of which it is an absolute socio-cultural training, poetry, works by highpoint. Niki de Saint Phalle and much more ‘I found this an exceptional besides. and irresistible book. De Haan has created a marvellous show out of it all, resolutely bringing on stage one new tone and atmosphere after another, clowns, vulgar sex, higher acrobatics and profound seriousness...’ – Kees ’t Hart in De Groene Amsterdammer Josse de Haan (b. 1941) devoted himself to literature, especially Frisian literature, from the ‘The Frog Years is a 1960's onwards, having taught in primary and surprising, polymorphous secondary schools. He wrote poetry, novels, essays novel in which present and and plays and ran a one-man magazine called iP2r90-Rendez Vous. He was one of the founders past, city and countryside, of Operaesje Fers (1968, Telepoëzie), which was romanticism and porno emulated elsewhere, including New York with its graphy, realism and poetry Dial a Poem. The novel Piksjitten op Snyp (The Frog form a dazzling amalgam.’ Years) is his magnum opus. He publishes work in – Kester Freriks in NRC Frisian, Dutch and other languages, with thirty-five book publications to date, and has won a number of prizes including the most prestigious Frisian literary award, the Gysbert Japicx Prize (2007). Photo: Anneke Bleeker 6 10 Books from Friesland Aggie van der Meer The Eighteen
Opting for personal integrity in times of repression
In The Eighteen the central character In The Eighteen, one of the eighteen Publishing details finds himself in a position whereby he members of the politbureau responsible De achttjin (2016) 144 pp., 38,260 words confronts the collective. His idealism is given a voice, a past and a conscience. comes up against the corrupting practices Ferenc Hacha, a Jew, fled from Dresden Publisher of a regime. The need to make choices to Prague as a child to escape the Nazis. Afûk and the unavoidable consequences are He survived the Second World War, and Ernst Bruinsma the theme of this novel, a theme that communist ideas restored his faith in the [email protected] Aggie van der Meer makes concrete in a future. In the court case brought by story that is as succinct as it is moving, Palach’s family against the state he turns with a pertinent structure. against the other members of the politbu reau, but to no avail. On 16 January 1969, Prague student Jan The reader follows Hacha on his lonely Palach set fire to himself, with fatal results, journey, sharing his thoughts and his mem in protest at the quashing of the Prague ories. He struggles with the question of Spring by the Russians. It was an act that what to do in the face of a totalitarian brought hundreds of thousands of people system that feels threatened. Hacha’s back out onto the streets. To prevent Kafkaesque battle for truth is in essence Palach from acquiring hero status, the a desperate attempt to retain his own authorities tried to discredit him by self-respect. From that position he looks distorting his motives. Relatives of Palach back on his confusing past and ahead to responded by taking legal action against a future that remains for a long time the state. uncertain.
‘The set-up of the novel [...] is from a literary point of view perfect.’ – Leeuwarder Courant
‘The Eighteen by Aggie van der Meer deserves to be translated into Dutch, German, Czech, Spanish, Russian and English, because it is a world-class book.’ – Friese-literatuursite
‘Aggie van der Meer, the oldest of them all, can inspire the Frisian writers of 2016, by her example, to seek an authentic voice, an impertinence, a contrary Aggie van der Meer (b. 1927) worked as an position, a personal art teacher and as a garden architect. She was perspective, both in active in the peace movement and devoted thinking and in writing herself to reform within the Catholic Church. style.’ Only later in life did she become a literary author, – Fers2 publishing her first book in 2000. Characteristic of her work – several poetry collections, novels and stage plays – is an engagement that is thoroughly convincing as literature. Photo: Wietze Landman 7 10 Books from Friesland Tiny Mulder Thin Ice
Resistance under occupation, witnessed by a teenage girl
Collaborate, accommodate or resist – sometimes even ironic spectator. Her Publishing details in occupied territories ordinary people observations and comments enable us to Tin iis (1981, 6th edition 2014) 305 pp., 101,320 words confront this moral dilemma. In Thin Ice feel the psychological tension that events an adolescent girl describes the choices create in those involved. The choices made Publisher made by her and the people around her in turn out to have their unpredictable sides. Elikser the occupied Netherlands during the The adolescent Klaske secretly finds the Jitske Kingma Second World War. The novel depicts danger she faces in her underground [email protected] the frightening and often heroic conse- activities attractive. No less unforeseen is Translation quences of those decisions, while at the that her mother feels as if she is handing Gevaarlijk ijs (Noordboek, 2003) same time everyday life goes on as usual. over a child of her own when she returns Anneke to her real parents after the war. Klaske Jagersma is fourteen when the Even more than adventure and heroism, war becomes a reality even inside the Thin Ice is about uncertainty and anxiety. family home. Her parents decide to take The central characters value human in a Jewish girl, Anneke, to save her from empathy above dogma and ideology. deportation. Further secret guests follow Tiny Mulder works her own memories as the Jagersma household becomes a of the war into the novel. She too was refuge for those who have gone into hiding active in the Dutch resistance and her and for downed Allied pilots. Moreover, parents hid people in the house. Her Klaske herself, after the example of her intention in writing Thin Ice was to reach older sister Dineke, becomes involved young people in particular, but the novel with the resistance. Teenage girls do not was read by many adults and grew to quickly arouse suspicion, so she is able to become one of the most highly rated make an important contribution. books ever written in the Frisian language. Klaske, the narrator of the story, takes a It was reprinted five times and also ‘Tiny Mulder writes from full part in events, but she is also the sober, published in Dutch. the inside about what life in wartime meant for ordinary people, who also faced a dilemma.’ – Leeuwarder Courant
‘[The people in this book] do what they have to do. Without any fuss. That’s what the book is about. A very good book. For precisely that reason.’ – Trotwaer
‘The more you read, the more exciting the book becomes [...]. I often wanted to get to the end Starting with her debut Orange Umbrella in of the chapter before I 1962, journalist and reviewer Tiny Mulder went to bed.’ (1921-2010) made her name as a poet with – A secondary school a highly individual voice. She also wrote and pupil (4th grade) on translated children’s books, radio plays and www.scholieren.com stage plays. Her first novel, Thin Ice, was published in 1981. In 1986 she was awarded the Gysbert Japicx Prize, the most important Frisian literary award, for her oeuvre as a whole. Photo: Henk Kuiper 8 10 Books from Friesland Willem Schoorstra Rêdbâd. Chronicles of a King
The life and times of a legendary Frisian king
Little is known about the historical The novel paints a picture in vivid colour Publishing details Rêdbâd, king of the once extensive of how Rêdbâd hastens the death of his Rêdbâd. Kronyk fan in kening (2011) Frisia. A biography of the early mediaeval father Aldgillis, how he rapes Fredou, the 368 pp., 126,590 words monarch based on facts alone would be woman he desires, how his wife Thiada short and not bring him any closer to us. deceives him, how the daughter whose Rights But the narrative talent with which marriage he arranged commits suicide. Noordboek Willem Schoorstra mixes historical Bright red is the blood that flows so Arie Krijgsman [email protected] knowledge with imagination brings the liberally, especially in the battles against legendary Rêdbâd back to life in a novel the Franks, which eventually make an as exciting as it is voluminous. invalid of Rêdbâd. After his death he turns out to have conceived a son with Fredou The story is told in retrospect by the who, it is suggested, will continue his elderly Hadagrim, who has been Rêdbâd’s dynasty. confidant. He sets himself this final task As legend would have it, Rêdbâd because ‘history has never, ever known refused at the last moment to have himself a king like Rêdbâd’. It is a story full of baptized when he realized that in a political and military intrigues, with the Christian afterlife he would not meet his Frankish Pepin of Herstal as Rêdbâd’s heathen ancestors. This legend symbolizes great enemy. But at the same time Hadag the change and uncertainty that mark rim offers a subtle psychological portrait Rêdbâd’s era, caused by a world outside of the Frisian king and tells of his personal Frisia. Schoorstra depicts Rêdbâd’s life ups and downs. It makes an almost mythi and times by placing his hero’s contempla cal ruler a person of flesh and blood once tions and deeds in a broader historical again. context. The result is a captivating, Rêdbâd is a man of passions, who does multi-layered novel, a real page-turner. not shrink from atrocities and violence. ‘Anyone reading this book will sooner or later fall under the spell of Willem Schoorstra’s clever writing. He has managed to give an impression of what life was like thirteen centuries ago.’ – Leeuwarder Courant
‘With Rêdbâd Willem Schoorstra has written his magnum opus.’ – Ensafh
‘The way the book is Willem Schoorstra (b. 1959) began as a poet written takes the reader but since his story collection Berjochten út Babel (Messages from Babel, 2002) he has back to the old days. A developed as a writer of prose. The novel Swarte book to read more than ingels (Black Angels), about an incestuous once. Great, fantastic relationship, won him the Fedde Schurer Prize, novel.’ awarded to the best debut, and was translated – Goodreads into Dutch. A second novel about relationships, De ôfrekken (The Settlement), was followed by Rêdbâd and Pier, about the late mediaeval Frisian avenger Pier Gerlofs Donia. Photo: Angela Dekens 9 10 Books from Friesland Hylke Speerstra The Comfort Bird
The true story of two Frisian families
There is no better way to keep the past The stories of the two families intersect Publishing details alive than by telling personal stories. when their descendants serve on the front De treastfûgel (2013) 208 pp., 53,000 words In The Comfort Bird Hylke Speerstra line in the Second World War, one family reconstructs with great skill and affec- as reluctant attacker and occupier, the Publisher tion the history of two Frisian families other as liberator of Europe; one as victor, Bornmeer whose fate was determined by the course the other as loser. Steven Sterk of history on a larger scale. Making use of family records, diaries, [email protected] conversations and surviving letters, Hylke Translated titles During migration, Hylke Speerstra tells Speerstra, who was himself the boy next De troostvogel (De treastfûgel, us, practically every flight of wilsters (the door to one of the family members, has Atlas Contact, 2013) Frisian for golden plovers) is accompanied reconstructed both histories and brought Het wrede paradijs (It wrede by another species of bird, which flies with them back to life. With his dazzling, vivid paradys, Atlas Contact, 2013) Cruel Paradise: True Stories of them as a ‘comfort bird’. On a long migra language, his huge capacity for empathy Dutch Emigrants (It wrede paradys, tion that involves great hardships, you do and his eye for crucial, striking anecdotes Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2005) after all need comforting. Speerstra could and details, he enables the reader to hear The Comfort Bird (De treastfûgel, not have chosen a better title for his book. not only the words and thoughts of people Mokeham Publishing, 2017) In The Comfort Bird he follows two from earlier times but their heartbeat as families from Hichtum in Friesland. In well. 1911 three generations of one family set out His description of tough ways of life, in together for America, to make their rural Friesland and in rural America, the dreams come true in the land of limitless dangerous crossing, the profound home opportunity. They manage, with great sickness, the comfort of family and finally difficulty, to survive in arid and poor South the insanity of the war are inimitable and Dakota. The other family keeps its roots in unforgettable, bringing back forgotten Friesland but sees Germany as the prom times and resonating long after the book ised land. ends. The Comfort Bird is literary history writing of the highest calibre.
‘Beautifully told.’ – Gerben de Vries, De Moanne
‘With his almost fairytale style of narration, in Comfort Bird Speerstra creates a combination of Hylke Speerstra (b. 1936) is one of the best known of living Frisian authors. His work is a mixture of historically factual account fiction and non-fiction, of the kind often found in and compelling literary Anglo-Saxon literature. He is regarded as a born story. storyteller, ‘a chronicler of his time,’ according to – Kim van Goethem - NPO Geert Mak. For years Speerstra worked as a Geschiedenis journalist. He is best known for his stories about emigrants. His book It wrede paradys (Cruel Paradise) is one of the best-selling Frisian books of all time. It also appeared in Dutch and in English. Photo: Linus Harms 10 10 Books from Friesland Tsead Bruinja Vacuum Cleaner Singers
A poetry collection about leaving, returning and settling
The bilingual volume Vacuum Cleaner As well as the past there are poems about Publishing details Singers combines poetry, music and art; it the present, about the poet Bruinja for Stofsûgersjongers / Stofzuigerzangers (2013) is a Gesamtkunstwerk in which three whom language means identity. He writes 128 pp. artists, Frisian by birth, investigate and travels all over the country with a With music by Femke IJlstra and nostalgia and our longing for the past. suitcase full of his published collections, to etchings by Mirka Farabegoli perform at places where people are not Tsead Bruinja’s lyrics lead the way, taking always looking for poetry. Publisher Afûk us back to the Frisian village in which he Bruinja’s poetry generally stands in the Ernst Bruinsma grew up. They tell of the depression of the midst of life. And a little of his engagement [email protected] 1930s, of a father who lost his job and a – mixed with a fair dose of self-mockery – family that had to move house as a result. comes through when he performs at a The poems, which tend towards prose, can fundraiser for the homeless, in a place to a large extent be traced back to the poet’s where ‘artists stood selflessly listening to own life. Vivid lines, without punctuation, themselves / while the good cause stood lay a shroud of melancholy over the story outside smoking and drinking’. of the adolescent boy, who is branded a Vacuum Cleaner Singers shows how a ‘peasant’ because he comes from out of childhood in a Frisian village shaped the town, fills shelves in the supermarket, poet and his way of thinking. His way of struggles with feelings of melancholy loving, too, since old village customs, with such as ‘puppylovelovesickness’ and girls who jumped on the back of boys’ ‘Often unerringly precise in makes half-hearted plans to kill himself. scooters as a sign that the courtship was the things he wants to say.’ Typography is deployed as a way of ‘on’, are reflected in modern city life. Years – Eppie Dam, Leeuwarder reinforcing meaning: descending lines later, as an adult, the poet knows he has Courant depict the poet’s tears at his mother’s found his girl when she lets him take her funeral. home after a meal: he pedals, while she sits on the back. Photo: Tineke de Lange
Bed the names you use your father and mother for food cutlery and crockery on the table your grandfathers and mothers are not the first names they are called something else which I learned for food cutlery and crockery they never cuddled up to you Tsead Bruinja (b. 1974) is regarded and when you touch me you sometimes touch gave you a kiss as one of Friesland’s leading poets, a completely different part of me or a good wash though he is equally well known in the rest of the Netherlands, and indeed than where my sister we live in the same world beyond. He writes both in the Frisian would pinch me after I’d teased her I cuddle up to you language and in Dutch, and is a or where my mother would put a little give you a kiss popular guest at literary festivals. more effort in washing me Bruinja made his debut in Frisian in for those things we use 2000. His Dutch-language collections we sleep in the same bed the same names now were nominated for the Jo Peters but yours is shorter Poetry Prize and the Ida Gerhardt and mine sounds more your bed and kisses Poetry Prize. His poems have been like the bleating of a goat are growing longer translated and published in reviews every year and anthologies in France, Germany, Iraq, Nepal, Slovenia, South-Africa, the UK and the USA. 11 10 Books from Friesland Theunis Piersma Guests of Summer
An ode to the house martins, who bring summer to Friesland
Guests of Summer presents a lively picture written ‘biography’ of the house martin. Publishing details of a small creature in our immediate The reason swallows collect white feathers Sweltsjes fan Gaast (2014) 136 pp., 27,500 words environment that often goes unnoticed: from the air, for example, is because they the house martin. The book offers a use them to line their nests, and white Publisher fascinating insight into the life cycle and feathers, more than black, have disinfect Bornmeer behaviour of a familiar yet enigmatic ant properties. Guests of Summer contains Steven Sterk bird. Rooted in scientific research and countless intriguing findings like these. In [email protected] larded with historical asides, Guests of pursuit of his subject, Piersma did not Translations Summer is above all an ode to a welcome limit himself to Gaast. The fact that the Zwaluwen van Gaast (Bornmeer, summer visitor. house martin is a migratory bird invites 2014) him to explain how ecological systems Guests of Summer. A House Martin Why do house martins collect feathers stretch right across the world. love story (BTO Books, Thetford, 2016) in the air as they fly? And why only white As well as being an ode to the house feathers, not black? These are just two martin, Guests of Summer – Piersma’s first of the many questions Theunis Piersma book in his mother tongue, Frisian – is an asked as he observed the house martins implicit salute to rural Friesland, where around his house. They nest in large the living is good as long as the house numbers in his home village in Friesland, martins return every summer. Piersma Gaast, living close to the villagers. In the succeeds in getting this feeling over to summer, that is. In winter they are away, readers who do not know Friesland and which prompted a neighbour to ask rarely if ever see a house martin. No Piersma, an ornithologist, where they go wonder the book has already been pub in winter. lished in both a Dutch and an English ‘This is a delightful book Piersma’s search for answers to these translation. [...] written by a leading and other questions resulted in a lovingly ornithologist and ecologist whose observations of the birds around him are informed by a love of birds but also an understanding of what makes them tick.’ – Mark Avery on the English edition
‘Piersma’s cheekiness, the self-mockery that pops up here and there [...] and the slightly ironic tone from time to time [...] mean that bird-lovers will not be the only readers to get great enjoyment out of this book. – Leeuwarder Courant Theunis Piersma (b. 1958) is Professor of Migratory Bird Ecology in Groningen and a Wadden Sea researcher on the island of Texel. ‘Theunis Piersma has For his ground-breaking book about migratory enriched our knowledge birds he was awarded the Spinoza Prize, the of birds and of language.’ highest scientific award in the Netherlands. With – NRC Handelsblad countless publications to his name, he is regarded as an international authority in his field. Moreover, he knows how to convey his scientific insights to the public at large. Photo: Rob Buiter 12 10 Books from Friesland Hanneke de Jong Salsa Girl
Young-adult story about the discovery of womanhood and an unwanted pregnancy
A recognizable, moving and frank story Freya loses her heart to the dance and to Publishing details about a girl who discovers her femininity, Guido. She wants to be more than his salsa Salsafamke (2008) 144 pp. 37,996 words falls in love, loses herself and gets into girl and she decides to do all she can to trouble before at last finding herself make him fall in love with her. Back in the Publisher again. Awakening sexuality, unwanted Netherlands she discovers that her Noordboek pregnancy, shame and uncertainty, impetuous holiday love has not been Arie Krijgsman and learning to accept responsibility: without consequences. What should she [email protected] Salsa Girl ought to be required reading do and whom can she trust? Translation for adolescents and their parents. An adolescent girl, who feels like a real Salsameisje (Salsafamke, woman for the first time, allows herself to Olga kinderboeken, 2009) It’s holiday time and fourteen-year-old be carried away until she loses sight of her Freya goes to Curacao with her parents own limitations and thereby gets into trou and her little brother. There they visit ble: it is a subject that can all too easily lead Freya’s older brother, who is doing to stories that wag moralistic fingers. voluntary work on the island. Hanneke de Jong skilfully avoids that trap. It is a time of rest and recuperation. Without frills, sentimentality or sensation After the death of Freya’s grandpa the alism, and with accessible, clear sentences family is in need of a bit of distraction. and a subtle sense of humour, she gives a Despite the presence of her irritating familiar theme a fresh, contemporary feel. younger brother, her apathetic father and a The clever structure – with chapters set in mother who reads self-help books all the the present in which Freya needs to come time, Freya hugely enjoys the heat, the sea, to a decision and looks back at exactly the beach, the being away from home. And what happened on Curacao – creates to top it all there is Guido, the wildly sustained tension. attractive friend of her brother. He teaches The convincing characters and the Freya salsa dancing, not the sedate steps author’s perceptible empathy make Freya’s she knows from dancing school but the struggle with her conscience a story with real salsa, which is all about unadulterated which any adolescent and any parent can passion and seduction. identify.
Hanneke de Jong (b. 1952) has written ten children’s books, four young adult titles and seven plays. She was twice awarded the Simke Kloosterman Prize for the best Frisian young ‘Direct style, contemporary adult book, in 2010 for Salsafamke (Salsa Girl) language and warm and in 2016. Her young adult novel De lêste brief atmosphere.’ (The Last Letter) was awarded a Silver Pin in – Jury Report, Simke 2000 by the Frisian Children’s Book Jury and the Kloosterman Prize Dutch translation, published by Van Goor, won her a Golden Kiss. Her young adult novel Sterke skouders (Strong Shoulders) gained a place in the 2006 IBBY List of Honour. Photo: Haye Bijlsma 13 10 Books from Friesland Voices from the North In 2015 these four Frisian poets were featured in the brochure Voices from the North (of Holland).
Girl Under the Apple Tree For Heaven’s Sake the good earth that turns towards the sun They imprisoned a bird and the night untangling from its branches gave wings to a dog and a horse. the apples They fired questions at the fine light hair on her goose bumps listened blankly to Tsead Bruinja a bird Elmar Kuiper the night between her breasts (b. 1974) (b. 1969) and the book on her lap Grass That's Already until the sound Heartbeat (2004) I had a face Laughing (2005) died out. Translation half-done Translation Susan Massotty & David Colmer & They reached a verdict Willem Groenewegen Tsead Bruinja said: for heaven’s sake dog and for heaven’s sake horse wanted sing to read along like a bird singer with lime on his claws chirp who can’t come tumbling out of the tree now that you can fly. and doesn’t catch any birds a bag of blood without hands in his head a new silence on his body a new pair of hands
Progress Candy Says
A small group was passing through the street with Bibles in She glided over the parquet, his little their hands. My father was standing next to me, grinning. He princess on the piano, piccola bitchy. said, “Those people still believe in God.” He probably stopped I hung on for dear life, hungrily ate to think about what he’d just said. The word “still” implied his leftover crusts and limp lettuce. progress. “Those people still believe in God.” It suggested levels of increasing insight. My father sniffed and mumbled, “We still Call me Candy. Whose legs he licked. believe in progress.” Silently we watched the slight figures until Whose sweet breath he sucked. Who knows. the small group had disappeared around the corner. Then I I plucked her song from the drain, smeared looked to the side and behind me. There was no one there. spit on the mirrors. Candy says: drop dead.
Nyk de Vries (b. 1971) Albertina Soepboer (b. 1969) Motorman (2007) The Fire Worshippers (2003) Translation Translation David Colmer & Nyk de Vries Susan Massotty 14 10 Books from Friesland Earlier brochures
The quiet life of Ale van der Utterly convincing portrait of A defiant literary gem full of Meer, a dude from Friesland a remarkable man eroticism and sacred magic
Hidde Boersma Reinder Brolsma Homme Eernstma The Most Ordinary of Men Land and People Lovedeath De gewoanste man (2011) Grûn en Minsken (1940) Leafdedea (1963)
Rights: Noordboek, Arie Krijgsman, Rights: U.H. Brolsma, Rights: Agnès Caers, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Dedication to the most everyday things proves Land and People is astonishing for its This is an intriguing little novel about an exciting, often hilarious, commentary on richness of perspective, its stylistic power eccentric baron who tries to secure his future modern times. and its remarkable irony and humour. by means of speculation and fantasies.
An ultimate highpoint in the A collision between tradition Solid and powerful, yet also work of a visionary poet and modernity elegant and melodious poetry
Tsjêbbe Hettinga Ulbe van Houten Elske Kampen Equinox Holwerda’s Sin Of Glass the Breaking Equinox (2009) De sûnde fan Haitze Holwerda (1938) Fan glês it brekken (2010)
Rights: Bornmeer, Steven Sterk, Rights: Elikser, Jitske Kingma, Rights: Noordboek, Arie Krijgsman, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
Hettinga’s poetry is often compared to the A powerful man is slowly being destroyed, by There is an unusual wariness in these verses, resonant work of Dylan Thomas, whose work his servants and his wife, but just as much by something guarded. It leaves just enough he translated. his own nagging conscience. space to live and breathe. 15 10 Books from Friesland
Here are all the Frisian titles from the 2013 brochure 10 Books from Friesland, compiled by Alpita de Jong, and the 2014 brochure 10 Books from Holland. The brochures can be found in their entirety at www.letterenfonds.nl/en/publications.
Miniatures of people in an A collection of provocative A frank account by a girl who unusual light poetry discovers she is a lesbian
Jaap Krol Elmar Kuiper Janneke Spoelstra Numbers In the Name of Myself Being Jiks Nûmers (2004) Ut namme fan mysels (2006) In Jikse-libben (2008)
Rights: Bornmeer, Steven Sterk, Rights: Bornmeer, Steven Sterk, Rights: Afûk, Ernst Bruinsma, [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
It is a district where all the houses are the Elmar Kuiper makes you believe in preposter- Spoelstra switches between different same, with gardens front and back. All of ous things. narrative perspectives, genres and styles: them are ordinary and at the same time dreams, reports, diary entries. extremely strange.
A powerful and realistic drama Scenes from a marriage and in the style of Hemingway from an upbringing in rural Friesland
Rink van der Velde Ale S. van Zandbergen The Trap The Littens Fair De fûke (1966) Littenser merke (2013)
Rights: Noordboek, Arie Krijgsman, Rights: Noordboek, Arie Krijgsman, [email protected] [email protected]
‘This is a gem of a novel with universal The novel cleverly combines two narratives, appeal’ Publisher’s Weekly interwoven to such an extent that it seems as if the time between them has evaporated. 10 Books from Friesland
Exploring the Literary Landscape of Friesland
Friesland, the most northwesterly province of best language in which to express what they Books from Friesland the Netherlands, is bilingual; everyone speaks want to say. Frisian literature is both rich and is distributed to international Dutch, but a large proportion of the population broad. editors and publishers. Please contact us if you would like to also speaks Frisian. That has been the case be included on our mailing list. for centuries. The development of Frisian as All this explains why the Province of Fryslân and a written language is a fascinating story. In the Dutch Foundation for Literature have joined Editors mediaeval times Frisian was used for official forces over the past four years to bring Frisian Alexandra Koch texts in Friesland and its neighbouring regions literature to the attention of other countries. In Dick Broer on the North Sea coast. Between 1600 and this brochure we present a diverse selection of Contributions 1900 it was mainly a spoken language, with an Frisian prose, poetry, non-fiction and young Eva Gerrits, Kees ‘t Hart, Klaas astonishing number of dialects, and the written adult literature, compiled by the Frisian publish- van der Hoek, Janita Monna, form was used only by writers and poets. ing world, and information about all the Frisian Alpita de Jong, Victor Schiferli, titles that have been selected since this Tsead Bruinja, Elmar Kuiper, Albertina Soepboer, Nyk de Vries From 1820 onwards Frisian literature was given collaboration began: a total of twenty-five titles a powerful boost in the province by the three that represent the best of modern Frisian Translation Halbertsma brothers, who with their incisive literature. Liz Waters, David Colmer, Susan and extremely popular writings laid the founda- Massotty, Willem Groenewegen tions for what was later to become Frisian Cover Image literature. It was not until the second half of the Reyer Boxem twentieth century, however, that the language Frisian authors during the Frankfurt Book Fair was given a place in public life and in education, Friday 21 October, 3.30 – 4.30 pm, Hall 5.0, C88 Printing and acquired the status of the second official Frysk auf dem Tisch – Taal op tafel – Language Platform-P language of the Netherlands. on the Table Design Kummer & Herrman, Utrecht No literature can exist purely because it has Three authors featured in this brochure will writers and poets; they need publishers and present their work during the Frankfurt Book readers. Most Frisian publishers are to be found Fair. Poet Tsead Bruinja will read from his in Friesland, but many of their readers live collection Vacuum Cleaner Singers, Willem outside the province. There are a number of Schoorstra will present, in words and music, literary magazines which offer a platform to Rêdbâd. Chronicles of a King about a Frisian writers, and they have become more important king of the early Middle Ages, and Anne than ever because of their presence on the Feddema will read from his short story collec- internet and the literary gatherings they organize. tion Cheetah’s Tears. Alongside and around the magazines, a cultural infrastructure has developed over time that is Writer and poet Eeltsje Hettinga and video supported by the state and by the province. artist Lotte Middendorp will show a number of short poetry clips that are part of the digital For writers and poets using Frisian, the potential literary project It Font (www.itfont.nl), in which readership is limited, but the sensuality and poetry, visual arts, readings and music are powerful imagery of the language, as well as its closely intertwined. unique idioms and humour, have an appeal that refuses to tailor itself to practical considera- tions. For many authors and poets, Frisian is the
ederlands Postbus /PO Box 16588 Provincie Fryslân 1001 RB Amsterdam PO Box 20120 N letterenfonds t +31 (0)20 520 73 00 NL-8900 HM Leeuwarden f +31 (0)20 520 73 99 +31 58 2925925 dutch foundation [email protected] [email protected] for literature www.letterenfonds.nl www.fryslan.nl visiting address Nieuwe Prinsengracht 89 1018 VR Amsterdam