NLPVF

QNF 2011

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:17:16 +0100

A ‘lively book about mathematics’ opens our selection of recent notable non-fiction from the Netherlands. With enthusiasm and humour, young first-time writer Vincent van Noort tells of his passion for numbers and his personal connection with them, and explains why he believes that we all have such a connection. He convincingly demonstrates the beauty of mathematics.

Martin Reints: new translations at Poetry International Web (PIW)

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:30:08 +0100

Dutch poet Martin Reints is featured at Poetry International Web, in the new November edition of the Dutch Domain.

His poet’s page now contains sixteen poems in the original Dutch version and in English translation by John Irons, biographical and bibliographical information, useful links and an interview by Marjoleine de Vos, translated by John Irons.

Death of Hella S. Haasse

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 15:54:28 +0100

On 29 September author Hella S. Haasse died. She was ninety-three. Haasse was one of the greatest of Dutch post-war writers. Her name has often been included as one of the ‘great four’ alongside Harry Mulisch, Gerard Reve and W.F. Hermans.
Her work was awarded the most important of Dutch literary prizes, including the Constantijn Huygens Prize, the P.C. Hooft Prize and the Dutch Literature Prize.

Dutch translators shortlisted

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:34:16 +0100

Two recent collections of Dutch poets in English translations have been shortlisted for the Popescu Prize in the UK. In 2007 Rutger Kopland’s What Water Left behind (Waxwing Poems, 2005), translated by Willem Groenewegen, was the first book of translated Dutch poems to be shortlisted for the prestigious prize. Now at the 2011 edition of the prize two out of six nominees are Dutch: Ramsey Nasr’s Heavenly Life (Banipal Books, 2010), translated by David Colmer, and Toon Tellegen’s Raptors (Carcanet, 2011), translated by Judith Wilkinson.

Beijing International Bookfair 2011

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 09:01:19 +0100

This year, the Netherlands is to be the country of honour at the Beijing International Bookfair, one of the largest book fairs in the world. At the 1,500m2 Dutch stand and other locations in the city, a programme will be featured in which over 20 accompanying authors, musicians, illustrators and designers will be taking part. New translations of works into Chinese will be available for all the Dutch authors present. A complete overview is to be found at the Chinese-English website set up by the Dutch Foundation for Literature for this large-scale presentation of Dutch culture: http://www.helanwenxue.org.

The 8th International Non-Fiction Conference: 'Skill up and learn!'

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:54:36 +0100

On 28 and 29 January, in the Rode Hoed in Amsterdam, the eighth International Non-Fiction Conference took place, with ‘Quality Non-Fiction in the Digital Era’ as its theme. At this stimulating and fruitful gathering, organized by the Dutch Foundation for Literature to give publishers, authors and translators perspectives on the near future, it became obvious that digital developments will bring important changes for non-fiction.

Tellegen translation wins Marsh Award

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:13:47 +0100

the Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation 2011 for Children’s Literature in translation has been awarded to Martin Cleaver for his translation of Letters to Anyone and Everyone by Toon Tellegen (Boxer Books Ltd, 2009).

Martin Cleaver said “I am honoured to receive the Marsh Award and delighted at this recognition. It has always been my dream that English-speaking children and adults should be able to enjoy literature and films from other cultures and language areas. Subtitling and literature in translation has a major role to play in this.”

The award was founded to highlight the exciting books made accessible to young people in the UK through their encounters with works in translation.

The Storm in Kirkus top 25

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 10:23:37 +0100

The recently published Top 25 Fiction list of Kirkus Reviews features The Storm by Margriet de Moor. The English translation of De verdronkene was published in 2010 by Knopf and translated by Carol Brown Janeway. De Moor is praised for the composition of the novel: “It’s hard to resist using the word “symphonic” to describe this exquisitely composed, piercingly moving story. De Moor continues to scale increasingly impressive heights.” Janeway shares the honour: “Janeway’s pristine translation.”

Joris Luyendijk wint French Literary Prize

Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:11:36 +0100

The 2010 Assises du Journalisme Literary Prize has been awarded to Des hommes comme les autres. Correspondants au Moyen-Orient, the French translation of Het zijn net mensen by Joris Luyendijk. For the first time this prize is conferred upon a non-French author and a non-French publisher. The Assises du Journalisme Literary Prize is a French literary prize awarded annually to a book on journalism and its practice. Luyendijks reportage about the shortcomings of journalism was published in England by Profile and in the United States by Soft Skull Press (both translations by Michele Hutchison).

In Memoriam: Harry Mulisch 1927-2010

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:27:02 +0100

Harry Mulisch, one of the greatest writers the Netherlands has produced and an international author of stature, died at his home in Amsterdam on Saturday 30 October. The Dutch Foundation For Literature mourns the loss of a great writer, a remarkable character and a literary friend.
Harry Mulisch was born in the Dutch city of Haarlem in 1927. His origins conceal the great tragedy of the twentieth century: ‘I am the Second World War,’ Mulisch said of himself. His father was Austro-Hungarian by birth, his mother a German-speaking Jew born in Antwerp.

Recent translations (Quality Non-Fiction from Holland, autumn 2010)

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 15:22:50 +0100

The names of the translators have unfortunately been omitted from the list on pages 11-13.

The Netherlands Host Country at Beijing Book Fair 2011

Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:38:04 +0100

PRESS RELEASE - The Netherlands will be the host country at the Beijing Book Fair 2011 (31 August - 4 September 2011), the fourth largest in the world. This was agreed with the Chinese book fair organisation this week.

Translator Claus wins 2010 PEN Translation Prize

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:43:38 +0100

The 2010 PEN Translation Prize has been awarded to Michael Henry Heim for his translation from the Dutch of Wonder (De verwondering) by Hugo Claus. The novel was published in 2009 by Archipelago Books. The judges write in their citation: “Michael Henry Heim’s outstanding translation has succeeded masterfully in mirroring Hugo Claus’s many voices in this novel that reflects a complex, complicated vision of post-World War II Flanders. It is a world that Claus describes in language that is often deeply poetic, and that alternates between simplicity and hyperbole, clarity and obfuscation, fantasy and reality. To capture all of this in English requires an intensely focused mind as well as an acutely sensitive ear. Michael Henry Heim proves to have both.”

Going Dutch in Amsterdam

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:34:42 +0100

To celebrate the publication of Amsterdam, the latest title in their City-Pick series of travel anthologies, Oxygen Books has made this short film bringing together a host of Dutch writers on their home ground.

Featured writers include Geert Mak, author of In Europe, Tommy Wieringa, and co-editor of the City-Pick Amsterdam book, Victor Schiferli.

Sam Garrett nominated for Oxford Weidenfeld Translation Prize

Tue, 25 May 2010 15:45:12 +0100

The judges for this year’s Oxford Weidenfeld Translation Prize have shortlisted Sam Garrett’s translation of Joe Speedboat by Tommy Wieringa (published by Portobello Books). The other nominees are Susan Wicks for Valérie Rouzeau’s Cold Spring in Winter, Larisa Gureyeva & George Hyde for Vladimir Mayakovsky’s Pro Eto - That’s What, Jamie McKendrick for Valerio Magrelli’s The Embrace, Howard Curtis for Gustave Flaubert’s Three Tales, and Lazer Lederhendler for Nicolas Dickner’s Nikolski.