It's Boekenweek!

At this moment we have the 75th 'Boekenweek' (Book Week) in The Netherlands .

Actually it is more than a week, since it started on Wednesday March 10 and will end on March 20. Every year in March the 10 days of the Boekenweek are fully dedicated to Dutch Literature. It's been a tradition since 1932.

Each Boekenweek is given a certain theme.

In 2010 the theme is described as "Titaantjes. Opgroeien in de letteren": Youth, adolescence, coming of age in literature.

The name 'Titaantjes'(little Titans) is referring to the title of a famous story written by the Dutch author Nescio in 1908.

Read more about Nescio below.

The beginning of each Boekenweek is marked by the Boekenbal (book ball), a gathering that is attended by many writers and publishers. Events are held across the country during the Boekenweek, such as book signing sessions, literary festivals and debates.

Photos of the Boekenbal >>

Video (Dutch writers speak to their younger self) >>

Official Website Boekenweek >>

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Boekenweekgeschenk 2010: DUEL

Each year a well-known writer is asked to write the Boekenweekgeschenk (book week gift), a small gift book for buyers who spend at least € 12,50 on books in the Dutch language in any book shop in The Netherlands (10-20 March only).
Boekenweekgeschenk 2010 is called 'Duel', written by Joost Zwagerman. Almost a million copies of this book were printed.

Joost Zwagerman is author of the novel Gimmick! (1989), Vals Licht (1991) en De buitenvrouw (1994) and many poems. His novels are translated into German, French, Hungarian, Czech and Japanese.

Sample from "Duel":

‘Voor zijn ogen zag Verhooff gebeuren wat nog niet was gebeurd en op datzelfde ogenblik al gebeurd leek te zijn: zijn hand, de vuist, het canvas. Hij had nooit een schilderijdoek horen uitscheuren. Er klonk een scherp gekraak als van een boomtak die in tweeën breekt – een onverwacht grof geluid voor zo’n frèle stuk linnen.’

('Before his eyes Verhoof saw happening what not yet had happened and at that moment seemed to have already happened: his hand, the fist, the canvas. He had never heard a painting canvas tear. There was a sharp crack, like a branch that breaks in two - an unexpected rough sound for such a fragile piece of linen.')

Nescio (Latin for "I don't know") is the pseudonym of businessman J.F.H. Grönloh (1882-1961). He published his first book in 1918, containing three novellas called De uitvreter (The Moocher), Titaantjes (Little Titans) and Dichtertje (Little Poet), but he was not much appreciated until decades later by established Dutch authors such as Bloem and Ter Braak.

The three novellas and another story called Mene Tekel were reprinted only a few times during his his life.

After his death, his work gained a much wider audience of - mostly young - readers. Nowadays his narratives with this relativistic, yet melancholy view to his own ideals, dreams and high expectations of life are a true part of the treasury of all-time Dutch literature.

The opening sentence of the story is known by everyone: "Jongens waren we - maar aardige jongens." (We were boys, but nice guys).

In Greek mythology the Titans were members of a divine family, the ancestors of the Olympic gods, who were defeated by Zeus.

In the story Titaantjes, the five little Titans gather every night to philosophize about life, what it is and what it should be, and why the fat gentlemen with their money and huge cigars have a so much better life than them, if it really is better ... The five boys fight a giant battle, but by using the diminutive 'titaantjes' it puts it right into perpective. Like the Titans in Greek Mythology, these little titans won't win in the end.

Central idea of the story: to become a member of civil society is a bad thing, to become one of the many little men you hate so much is something you must avoid. But in the end everybody becomes one. Except Bavink, but he will end up in a mental hospital. Nescio's story outlines the disillusionment of friends who wish to lead their own lives, but are prevented from doing so by various social barriers.

This is the bronze sculpture in the Oosterpark in Amsterdam. Created in 1971 by Hans Bayens (* 1924 - † 2003) to honor Nescio's Titaantjes, depicting the main characters Bavink, Hoyer en Koekebakker. In the actual story the boys are not sitting on a bench. On the pedestal the first line of the story can be found.

Listen to the opening lines of the story >>

Jongens waren we--maar aardige jongens. Al zeg ik 't zelf. We zijn nu veel wijzer, stakkerig wijs zijn we, behalve Bavink, die mal geworden is.

Download the free ebook TITAANTJES by Nescio (pdf)

Note that is is written in the pre-war Dutch spelling, which sometimes might be difficult to understand. The story is best for intermediate/advanced learners of the Dutch language with regular reading experience.

Download MP3 Audio of Chapter 1 (mp3)
(0:07:44 / 7.17 MB)

We are painting our eBay store orange this month to get you ready for Dutch Koninginnedag, or to be ready to support the Holland Oranje Football team during the World Championships in South Africa this Summer.

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