To celebrate #HighImpactAllStars – our evening of literature from the Low Countries – this January, we at the European Literature Network are going Dutch.
No, we’re not going to ask you to split the bill with us. Rather, we are giving you, for free, a selection of reviews, articles and pieces of and about Dutch Literature.
Our Dutch specialist for the month, Aimée Hardy, reviews the new novel, Dear Mr M, from the eminent Herman Koch. Aimée also discusses an untranslated Dutch work she would like to translate herself, and commits to video her feelings about one of her favourite Dutch books – Tirza by Arnon Grunberg.
Ensuring we’re accompanying our #HighImpactAllStars event with insightful reviews of the literature on offer on the night, our very own Rosie ‘the Riveter’ Goldsmith shares her thoughts on The Evenings by Gerard Reve; first-time #RivetingReviewer Scott Emblen-Jarrett tackles Esther Gerritsen’s Roxy; and yours truly dives into the Penguin Book of Dutch Short Stories.
We also have reviews of other Dutch work, old and new, plus a roundup from specialist Dutch-English publisher, Holland Park Press, who have also kindly allowed us to republish a couple of columns by poet Arnold Jansen op de Haar.
As if that wasn’t enough – we’re also please to publish our first ‘Author’s Pitch’. This is part of what we hope will be a productive and useful series of posts on the European Literature Network website, in which writers and/or translators provide details and samples of work that is yet to be translated into English. Author Annette Zeelenberg is the first brave soul to offer up her novel. Let’s hope many more will follow.
So take a look at what we think is a special selection of work from a literature that needs more attention here in the UK. Geniet ervan!
By West Camel