Hella Haasse, Writer
Museum Auntie mailed me yesterday to let me know that the great Dutch writer Hella S. Haasse had died at the age of 93. When I tweeted about it, I was only able to link to the Wikipedia article in English but it's garnered a few mentions in the English language press now.
Haasse specialised in historical novels, most notably about the then Dutch East Indies where she was born. Julian Evans' review of one of Haasse's most important works, The Tea Lords, gives a good idea of her work:
"it is exactly her unflashy quality that is remarkable, the way her stories derive an unostentatious strength from her steady, irresistible immersion in her characters' lives."
She's wonderful and should be on everyone's reading list.
Haasse specialised in historical novels, most notably about the then Dutch East Indies where she was born. Julian Evans' review of one of Haasse's most important works, The Tea Lords, gives a good idea of her work:
"it is exactly her unflashy quality that is remarkable, the way her stories derive an unostentatious strength from her steady, irresistible immersion in her characters' lives."
She's wonderful and should be on everyone's reading list.