King of Tuzla - Softcover

'If you want proof that literature has the power to change lives then this illustrates it on every level.' - Simon Quicke on his blog inside books 'The novel is worth reading for these cameos alone' 'with reflection the novel ends with more gravitas than a thousand cheap plot twists could give you' - Watching the Coast blog 'King of Tuzla is a thinly-fictionalised account of the Bosnian War, infused with pathos and wit and the blackest of comedy.' 'It is this empathy for the victims, as well as the witnesses, that makes King of Tuzla both a brutally honest coming-of-age novel and an important addition to the literature of modern war.' - BookTrust Tranlated Fiction 'King of Tuzla is a thought-provoking story about the conflict in Bosnia. The author uses beautiful prose to create a vivid feeling of the time and place, and an intense emotional narrative about the realities of war.' - Bookish Magpie 'In King of Tuzla Arnold Jansen op de Haar has successfully used fiction to tell a greater truth.' - Emma Lee's Blog 'King of Tuzla tells the story of service in the Balkans vividly, as only a soldier who served there can relay. The book is a must for the library of any military enthusiast or historian. - Stephen Phillips Blog 'The book is a cracking read and I flew through it in a couple of days. Arnold Jansen op de Haar has obviously written this book from the heart...' 'What Arnold has wonderfully done is included little stories from the locals about their lives and the effect the wars have had on them.' - Winstonsdad's Blog 'A book which hits us with the reality of war' 'Well written, the narrative has quite eloquent qualities and makes it very easy to picture the characters and the war-ravaged former Yugoslavia.' - Contrary Life 'The characterisation of Tijmen and his fellow officers is effective. Tijmen himself is an intriguing character...' 'There are ... some lovely images and gorgeous rhythms ... this poignant description of Tijmen's flat: "Eight years in the same flat, where time's mechanism had jammed. No-one had been loved there."' - Whispering Gums Blog

All of a sudden Tijmen Klein Gildekamp, a young army captain, finds himself in a real war. He is part of the UN, based in Bosnia in the former Yugoslavia, the scene of the most recent war in Europe. King of Tuzla is not so much about military battles or strategies rather it focuses on how war affects ordinary people, both soldiers and civilians. Interspersed with Tijmen's story about finding his own identity within a strict military environment, we are shown vivid snippets of life in the war zone: Civil servant Galib Prolaz, a self proclaimed Yugoslavian citizen who, after the Muslims were driven away, had no alternative but to become a farmer. The beautiful Lucia Mezga, who behind the bar of 'Holland House', dreams that officers are queuing up to marry her. Do Tijmen's ambitions survive this war? Does he come to terms with how he has changed? King of Tuzla is a truly original coming-of-age story.