10 Books from Holland London Book Fair Issue

ederlands N 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 Lists of experienced translators are provided by e-mail. Mediterranean countries, English-language countries. Russia, Arabic world. Poetry Graphic novels. [email protected] We want to work with somebody who is not on your list. [email protected] 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. [email protected] Meetings are held six times a year, the dates are announced [email protected] 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, [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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. [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 Dijkstra 11 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 Boer 12 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 [email protected] 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 Oudheusden 13 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] (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 [email protected] Rights sold: Germany (Beck), Rights: Marijke Nagtegaal, Portugal (Guerra e Paz), Poland [email protected], (Muza) Uta Matten, [email protected] 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 Volkskrant 14 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 Selisˇkar 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 ederlands Postbus /PO Box 16588 NL – 1001 RB Amsterdam N letterenfonds t +31 (0)20 520 73 00 Printing [email protected] Platform P dutch foundation www.letterenfonds.nl for literature Design visiting address Nieuwe Prinsengracht 89 Kummer & Herrman, Utrecht 1018 VR Amsterdam