Writersblog

Salomon Kroonenberg

Salomon Kroonenberg, Dutch writer

The Dutch programme at the International Book Fair in Beijing was cunn... >>> read more

Henk Pröpper

Henk Pröpper, Director Dutch Foundation for Literature

In two weeks’ time, the official opening of one of the largest b... >>> read more

Kai Kang

Kai Kang, Journalist China Reading Weekly

Dear Dutch publishers. The book fair is over. Perhaps you’ll now... >>> read more

Ingrid and Dieter Schubert

Ingrid and Dieter Schubert, Dutch illustrators

The days are full and long. We are incessantly bombarded with impressi... >>> read more

Michele Hutchison

Michele Hutchison, Editor De Arbeiderspers

Arriving on the stand on the first day, I’d asked a Chinese visi... >>> read more

Michele Hutchison

Michele Hutchison, Editor De Arbeiderspers

Big excitement today since we were finally meeting with Songyu from Fl... >>> read more

Ingrid and Dieter Schubert

Ingrid and Dieter Schubert, Dutch illustrators

It’s now the third day, and the first one with plenty of sun. Un... >>> read more

Kai Kang

Kai Kang, Journalist China Reading Weekly

What a great opportunity to learn about the Dutch literature for Chine... >>> read more

Salomon Kroonenberg

Salomon Kroonenberg, Dutch writer

A duck flies to and fro over the vast expanses of world ocean, despera... >>> read more

Michele Hutchison

Michele Hutchison, Editor De Arbeiderspers

‘In the era of browsing, we provide reading.’ - Slogan see... >>> read more

Michele Hutchison

Michele Hutchison, Editor De Arbeiderspers

The jewel in the crown of our collection of Arbeiderspers titles publi... >>> read more

Michele Hutchison

Michele Hutchison, Editor De Arbeiderspers

The Chinese publishers I have met during the course of my career, the ... >>> read more

Salomon Kroonenberg

Salomon Kroonenberg, Dutch writer

I have so far never been to a book fair. Nor do I know what to imagine... >>> read more

Kai Kang

Kai Kang, Journalist China Reading Weekly

Since 2006, I began writing about the Netherlands’ performance a... >>> read more

Henk Pröpper

Henk Pröpper, Director Dutch Foundation for Literature

Now that the fair is just round the corner, this is perhaps the moment... >>> read more

Michele Hutchison

Michele Hutchison, Editor De Arbeiderspers

The traffic in Beijing is horrendous, I’m sure the other blogger... >>> read more

Thomas Möhlmann

Thomas Möhlmann, Staff member Dutch Foundation for Literature

What an evening the poets and the approximately 200 onlookers present ... >>> read more


Anna Enquist - The Homecoming

Anna Enquist - The Homecoming

In The Homecoming Anna Enquist tells the story of the marriage of James Cook, the great eighteenth-century explorer who charted a large part of the globe. Elizabeth Batts, James’ wife, is waiting for him to return from his second voyage, which has lasted several years. Three of their five children have died in his absence, the accidental death of their small daughter being an especially heavy blow, because Elisabeth feels she is to blame.

Cook may be a hero to the world, but he is a failure as a husband and father. He has not seen any of his children grow up, and the burden of their deaths has fallen entirely on Elizabeth. Cook is present for the birth of his sixth child, but by the time of its death and that of his two remaining sons, he has sailed away, never to return.

The Homecoming is a splendidly written portrait in which Enquist effortlessly bridges the distance between us and the historical characters. She has created a huge readership for her novels and poetry since her debut in 1991. Enquist takes a strong stance on existential issues, refusing to accept the disappearance of the lyrical soul as part of a natural process.

Biography

Anna Enquist made her debut as a poet with Soldiers’ Songs (1991), which was awarded the C. Buddingh’ Prize for best debut. For her second collection, Hunting Scenes (1992), she received the Lucy B. and C.W. van der Hoogt prize. In 1994 Enquist published her first novel, The Masterpiece. Her second novel, The Secret, was also a huge bestseller and received the Trouw readers prize.

Quotes

  • ‘Her best, most comprehensive and most touching novel.’ – NRC Handelsblad
  • ‘A surprising and touching novel about the loss of children, about the destruction of a union between a man and a woman, and, above all, about the inadequacy of facts when it comes to understanding people.’ – Haarlems Dagblad