NEW — Edith’s Story now available as an audio book!
Narrated by the inimitable Miriam Margolyes , now available on Audible
Hester Velmans is an award-winning translator of contemporary Dutch and French literature, and the author of the popular children's books Isabel of the Whales and Jessaloup's Song.
WAMC RADIO BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR
SLIPPER — A FAIRY TALE
FOR THE AGES
"A satisfying blend of history and myth that breathes new life into Cinderella." — Kirkus
This one's nothing like the story your grandmother told you
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"An extraordinary and original take on some classic fairytales which will prove to be an inherently riveting read from first page to last. " — Midwest Book Review
`"Written in a delicate, ornate prose style that has a transporting effect, bringing readers back to Perrault’s time and nestling them in a thoroughly alluring narrative. " — Kirkus Reviews
"Slipper is the most engaging novel I have read in a long time. Part romantic love story, part fairy tale, part feminist commentary, this is a wonderful, old fashioned novel to be savored. It is as if a graduate student had stumbled upon a handwritten, 19th century manuscript in the British Library, read it, and declared, 'There was a fourth Bronte sister -- and she was the most talented of the brood!'" — Daniel Klein, best-selling author of Travels with Epicurus, Plato and Platypus Walk into a Bar and others
- NEW TRANSLATIONS -
THE CONSEQUENCES by Niña Weijers
Nominated for The International Dublin Literary Award 2019
"Niña Weijers’ remarkable, inventive novel depicts a contemporary conceptual artist at the height of her fame whose blasé art project has unintended consequences. Movies and books notoriously fail to capture the social and spiritual atmosphere of the contemporary art world, but Weijers nails it. Her book is beautifully written, surprising and often profound."
– Chris Kraus
Read an excerpt of Weijers’ Rooms, Anterooms in the journal Asymptote here:
LOVE, IF THAT’S WHAT IT IS by Marijke Schermer
“Dutch playwright Schermer explores themes of romantic ennui and individuality in her scintillating debut, a yearlong account of a deteriorating marriage.” —Publishers Weekly
THE SECRET DIARY OF HENDRIK GROEN by Hendrik Groen
#1 international bestseller: a funny and tender-hearted tale about friendship, love, and an old man who is young at heart.
"Engaging and hilarious, Hendrik's diary gives a dignity and respect to the elderly often overlooked in popular culture, providing readers a look into the importance of friendship and the realities of the senior care system in modern society."―Publishers Weekly
Read Hester's take on translating the first lines of The Secret Diary here:
HARD COPY by Fien Veldman
The story of girl meets printer
FOYLES’ 2024’s Ten Best Translated Fiction List
“Weird, funny, off-beat and unforgettable, Hard Copy is a pitch-perfect début of millennial free-fall from an exciting new voice in Dutch literature. On the surface the story of a customer services assistant who develops an intense and obsessive relationship with her photocopier, Hard Copy is also an insightful and penetrating look at the world of work, class boundaries and our relationships with the machines that govern and dictate our lives.” — Foyles
- OTHER NEWS -
WINNIE AND THE INNOCENCE OF THE WORLD by Joost Zwagerman
Short story translated from the Dutch by Hester Velmans
Ten minutes ago Winnie was still thinking the world should simply end. This morning she had a fight with someone I don’t know. I expect it’s one of those clever dicks trying to claw their way up the ladder at that rubbish advertising company that has taken her on as a temp. The spat wasn’t serious, but believe me, less significant incidents have been known to send Winnie into a broody spin over corruption, mortal sin, violent revolution, environmental disaster and total annihilation. Winnie is one of those people who at the first little setback console themselves with the thought that everything on earth will inevitably come to a crashing end.
Read the rest of the story published in GRANTA here:
AUDIO BOOKS
Edith’s Story was recorded by the wonderful Miriam Margolyes OBE, of Harry Potter and The Age of Innocence fame, now available on Audible.com
Isabel the Whales is available as an audio book on Audible.com. Recorded at BMA Studios and read with spirit and spark by Hāna Kenny. READ MORE
NEA
Hester received a U.S. NEA Literature Fellowship to translate Herman Franke's Slow Light, which he finished four days before his untimely death.
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