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The Penguin Book of Dutch Short Stories
The Penguin Book of Dutch Short Stories
Oct 29, 2024 9:25 PM

Author:Joost Zwagerman

The Penguin Book of Dutch Short Stories

'The stories here will provoke, delight and impress. Joost Zwagerman's selection forms a fascinating guidebook to a landscape you'll surely want to wander in again.' Clare Lowden, TLS

'There is a lot of northern European melancholy in the collection, though often tinged with wry humour...an excellent book' Jonathan Gibbs, Minor Literatures

'We were kids - but good kids. If I may say so myself. We're much smarter now, so smart it's pathetic. Except for Bavink, who went crazy'

A husband forms gruesome plans for his new fridge; a government employee has a haunting experience on his commute home; prisoners serve as entertainment for wealthy party guests; an army officer suffers a monstrous tropical illness. These short stories contain some of the most groundbreaking and innovative writing in Dutch literature from 1915 to the present day, with most pieces appearing here in English for the first time. Blending unforgettable snapshots of the realities of everyday life with surrealism, fantasy and subversion, this collection shows Dutch writing to be an integral part of world literary history.

Joost Zwagerman (1963-2015) was a novelist, poet, essayist and editor of several anthologies. He started his career as a writer with bestselling novels, describing the atmosphere of the 1980s and 1990s, such as Gimmick!(1988) and False Light (1991). In later years, he concentrated on writing essays - notably on pop culture and visual arts - and poetry. Suicide was the theme of the novel Six Stars (2002). He took his own life just after having published a new collection of essays on art, The Museum of Light.

Reviews

Forms a loose narrative - both historical and literary - of the twentieth century...watching the decades roll by in this looking-glass world, familiar yet strange, is one of the book's chief pleasures...the stories here will provoke, delight and impress. Joost Zwagerman's selection forms a fascinating guidebook to a landscape you'll surely want to wander in again.

—— Claire Lowden , TLS

There is a lot of northern European melancholy in the collection, though they are often tinged with wry humour...The Second World War and Dutch colonialism also cast their shadows on these stories. Unblemished comedy is in short supply. And you have to ask: is this gloominess a reflection on the Dutch temperament, or on the present selection?... An excellent book

—— Jonathan Gibbs , Minor Literatures

An affectionate love-letter to the Dutch short story which deserves to be cherished by all

—— TN2 Magazine, Trinity College Dublin

the range of stories, styles and authors means you can happily plunge in free of preconceptions and rarely find
yourself disappointed. Similar anthologies can vary wildly in quality but The Penguin Book Of Dutch Short Stories keeps the bar high throughout mainly because, it seems, Zwagerman chose to include stories he admired on merit rather than making sure a list of boxes were ticked...

—— Charlie Connelly , New European

Strangely moving, hilariously unsettling, and unlike anything else you'll read this year

—— Esquire

Hilarious but frightening, cruel yet compassionate...read the first pages of any story slowly and you'll realise how good he is

—— Scotland on Sunday

The debut of an exciting new voice in fiction...He's a savage satirist with a sentimental streak who delineates the dark underbelly of the American dream. Mr Saunders' satiric vision of America is dark and demented, also ferocious and very funny

—— Michiko Kakutani , New York Times

From unhappy women overcoming problems to fairytale romance, you'll love getting lost in these charming tales

—— People

A book that maps the wonder of everyday love

—— Metro

Lots to cheer about in Moyes' first collection of short stories. If you want romance, the title story and its hapless heroine Nell will give it to you in spades

—— Red

With a talent for writing about the everyday in a wonderfully warm and wacky way, Moyes somehow manages to break your heart before restoring your faith in love

—— Sunday Express

Like her peers David Nicholls and Marian Keyes, possesses the enviable gift of making the reader laugh in the gloomiest of circumstances

—— Independent on Sunday

Just like Moyes' other works, the stories are heartfelt, emotional and teach us about love, loss, liberation and laughter. Fans of her previous work will love it

—— OK!

Delightful short stories from the author of Me Before You

—— Prima

A heartwarming debut collection of short stories - all centred on everyday women - from the author of Me Before You

—— Mail on Sunday

From unhappy women overcoming problems to fairytale romance, you'll love getting lost in these charming tales

—— The People

A book that maps the wonder of everyday love

—— Metro (London)

The best-selling queen of romantic fiction has delivered the goods... you'll love getting lost in these charming tales

—— Sunday Mirror

Irresistible... Paris for One offers a dose of instant escapism to whisk you away

—— Daily Express

A beautiful read

—— Hello

Moyes is always good on male/female relationships. But her sneaky brilliance is in the way she discreetly includes the powerful influence that women have on each other's love lives

—— Daily Mail

An undeniably enjoyable dose of escapism

—— Irish Independent

Mark Haddon has become a master of the short story…this new collection intrigues and horrifies by turn

—— Country & Town House

Gripping tale… Told with forensic precision.

—— Paddy Kehoe , RTE Online

Exuberant, lusty exercises in juxtaposition… Such contrasts not only power each piece but also act as a form of call and response across them… Terrifically compelling collection.

—— Alex Clark , Guardian

Impressive but forbiddingly lightless collection. There’s no doubt about Haddon’s skill.

—— Tim Martin , New Statesman

Have you ever read a book that made you gasp out loud and nearly burst into tears? The title story…had that effect on me… Haddon is able to give human tragedy the due solemnity it deserves but without being po-faced. A wonderful collection.

—— Anne Sexton , Hot Press

Guaranteed to keep me riveted.

—— Karen Byrom , My Weekly

Gripping… Packs the action and themes that might power a very full novel into less than 70 pages

—— John Williams , New York Times

Scintillating first foray into the shorter form… Beautifully crafted… A challenging and idiosyncratic talent, with a memorable way with words.

—— Max Davidson , Mail on Sunday

[Haddon] portrays the nightmares of our own society…with astonishing deftness, mixing black humour and pathos.

—— David Platzer , Tablet

The Pier Falls had me gasping in disbelief.

—— Chris Catchpole , Q

[It was] grim and compelling… [A] ripping, gripping yarn – narrative velcro.

—— Craige Raine , Spectator, Book of the Year

I savoured all the atmospheric short stories in The Pier Falls.

—— Elizabeth Reapy , Irish Times, Book of the Year

An enthralling short story collection; dark, immersive stories with lots of action. The writing is tight and inspiring.

—— E. Reapy , Irish Independent, Book of the Year

[A] searing collection of short stories that thrill and chill in equal measure.

—— Claire Allfree , Metro, Book of the Year

I was also captivated by the dark A Pier Falls, a brilliantly written collection of bleak and brutal short stories.

—— Mernie Gilmore , Daily Express, Book of the Year

I adored The Pier Falls… Each story is wildly entertaining and well written.

—— Dave Rudden , Headstuff, Book of the Year

[It] proves the capacity of a short story to immerse the reader fully in a fictional world.

—— Anita Sethi , Guardian, Book of the Year

This short-story collection is thrilling and exquisitely written. I gave out several copies as Christmas presents.

—— Claire Fuller , Sunday Telegraph

An exquisite writer.

—— Fiona Wilson , The Times

Mesmerisingly good stories, hugely varied, skilfully written, full of deft touches and narrative shocks... an absolute treat

—— Marcus Berkman , Spectator, *Books of the Year*
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