Non-Dutch writers writing about the Netherlands

There are a massive amount of these, I suppose I started by reading Nicholas Freeling's books back in the 1970s (after loving the series Van Der Valk) - I was in my teens I might add!

My 'odd shelf' for things Dutch includes things written about the Netherlands by non-Dutch writers as well as things written by the Dutch.

Probably the most famous novels recently in this genre are The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier and Tulip Fever by Deborah Moggach.

Caroline, do you intend this section to include non-fiction, or not?

Knarf - yes, this can include anything relating to Holland by non-dutch writers. Thank you for your input in the group, I'm enjoying discovering new work.

You might also look into Boswell in Holland, James Boswell's diaries from his tour of the Netherlands, and Jean Lorrain's curious Monsieur de Bougrelon, of which a copy of the rare Devambez edition is on display here:

http://www.kb.nl/bc/koopman/1926-1930/c25-en.html

Ben - I almost bought Boswell in Holland once before, but it was a bit pricey, you have reminded me to look for another copy. I will look too at the Lorrain. Thank you for the tip.

Boswell you can pick up for a song through our benevolent sponsor, ABE; the Lorrain is a different story, and in French.

Ben - I own I picked up the Boswell through Amazon this morning, but I do use ABE from time to time.

Ben - are all available editions of Jean Lorrain's book in French? I do not have a good enough command of the language to indulge, if so.

I have never found a copy of it in English - I suspect he's not considered "classic" ($$) enough for most publishing houses to consider for translation. My French is crusty as well. I have to keep the Collins at my side these days. Now, there are some things by Lorrain in English (Monsieur de Phocas, Nightmares of an Ether-Drinker), but these have no Dutch associations.

Thanks Ben. I was looking at your thoughtful post of the Devambez edition and wistfully thinking how lovely it looked with the illustrations. I would need to have my kids translate it (being in Canada now has the advantage of French Immersion schools.)

The first edition copies on the internet are very expensive (thousands) so it would need to be a reprint for me. I have bought the Boswell on the internet; it looks fascinating too.

Thanks for all the suggestions - I am taking more than giving on this site.

Thousands?! The capitalist in me (dwarfish and feeble, obviously) shouts, "sell! sell!"

I had another Devambez edition lined up, but the guy won't take a credit card. Tant pis, I think, is the (polite) expression.

This is polite indeed.
I regret to say that apart from "Monsieur de Phocas", it's not easy to find Lorrain's works here in France as well.

I almost forgot - Ian McEwan's Amsterdam.

The apothecary's house
Finished reading: 7 July 2007



Some time ago I read The Apothecary's House by Adrian Mathews and must say I enjoyed it very, very much. The author has been able to capture the spirit of Amsterdam, and of the people of Amsterdam very well. The novel is set in Amsterdam, and apart from a few minor glitches, Amsterdam is described very accurately. I'd say, the author must have lived there for some time (although his biography doesn't mention that) or done his homework really well.

There is one feature of the supposed city's architecture, however, which I doubt. I won't say more about that, as it might prove a spoiler.

Living far away from Amsterdam, I really enjoyed this novel. Well done!

The Courage Consort
Finished reading: 7 May 2011



Another uninspiring read by Michael Faber, bland & unintersting, with an oddly large sprawling of Dutch words and expressions.

The thousand autumns of Jacob de Zoet
Finished reading: 16 December 2011



Amid quite a few mediocre and disappointing readings, I was happy to get started on this great novel, The thousand autumns of Jacob de Zoet, by David Mitchell. Oddly, Dutch people in general do not know very much, at least not in detail, of the history of Dejima and the Dutch influence on Japan. While reading this novel, especially the last part, I looked up various things and was astounded by the scope of Dutch influence through "Dutch studies" on Japanese modernization.

The thousand autumns of Jacob de Zoet is a novel on a grand scale, which never tires reading. Both the Japanese story line and the Dutch-British skirmish story line are joined in an elegant and convincing manner.

The story of the Dutch-British skirmish is based on a true historical event, but displaced in history by about five years. Mitchell has picked up this story and turned in into a wonderful book. Dutch authors have not written about this story, which Mitchell uses so well to illustrate the decline of the Dutch empire, the ascent of the British empire and the Japanese caught in the middle, realizing the imminent need for their steps on the path of modernization, which would lead Japan away from the feudalistic society to a modern nation, as the first in Asia, and develop its own imperialistic plans.