Nostalgic, elegiac story about a Dutch family in the 1960s and their journey from innocence to experience
The story of a family – mother, father (ex-WWII pilot), twelve-year-old son, David – who live above a toy shop in a small town on the windswept Dutch coast.
On the same day that David finds himself listening to the toy shop owner complaining that he can’t sell model aeroplane kits any more because kids nowadays are too lazy to glue all the pieces
together, David’s father quits his job in a fit of pique and pride. A few hours later, his mother comes
home, having left her job too.
So, David devises a plan – and before the day is over the whole family is at home, putting model aeroplanes together. A wonderful, perfect summer ensues, suddenly interrupted by the arrival of an unexpected visitor, his father’s old friend from the war. His arrival revives old feelings of loyalty, love and hatred – and ensures that nothing will ever return to a perfect state again.
Accessible, warm, funny and wise, this novel was a massive bestseller in Moring’s native Holland. A gem of a story, it has the fable-like appeal of a Miss Garnet’s Angel (but without the middle-Englandness) or of Bernard Schlink’s The Reader (but without the heavy moral overtone).The book is most reminiscent of J.L. Carr’s A Month in the Country, the Booker Prize-winning English novel set just after WWI, heavy with nostalgia, evocative, melancholy.
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Holland’s most famous author, Marcel Möring, was born in 1957 in Enschede, and he now lives in Rotterdam. He decided to become a writer at the age of thirteen.
After studying Dutch literature for two years and writing and directing plays, Möring published his aclaimed first novel, ‘Mendels Erfenis’ in 1990. His second, ‘Het Grote Verlangen’ (‘The Great Longing’) won the AKO Prize, the Dutch equivalent of the Booker Prize, and sold over 100,000 copies in the Netherlands alone.
Twelve-year-old David lives with his mother and father above a toy shop in a small Dutch town. On the same day that the toy shop owner complains yet again that he can't sell model aeroplane kits any more because kids nowadays are too lazy to glue all the pieces
together, David's father – an ex-WWII pilot – quits his job for the umpteenth time. A few hours later, his mother comes home, having left her job too.
So, David devises a plan – and before the day is over the whole family is at home, putting model aeroplanes together for the toy shop owner to sell. A long, rainy Dutch summer ensues, in which mother, father and son work alongside each other; they've never been so close, never felt so secure. Then one night, David hears his father's voice, full of surprise and the next morning there's a visitor at the breakfast table, Humbert Cole, an old wartime friend. The unexpected arrival of this charming and worldly man revives old feelings of loyalty, love and hatred – and ensures that nothing will ever return to a perfect state again
"Evocative and moving…told with convincing passion"
SCOTSMAN
"A Haunting novel about three rootless siblings…told with disquieting subtlety and surprising detail."
ESQUIRE
"A fat, rich novel, stuffed with story, bulging with plot. Read it once, then read it again."
THE TIMES
"A magnificent novel. Rich Dickensian storytelling, warm and wise humour: a world-class performance from the new Dutch master."
INDEPENDENT
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EUR 4,51 für den Versand von Vereinigtes Königreich nach USA
Versandziele, Kosten & DauerEUR 22,94 für den Versand von Vereinigtes Königreich nach USA
Versandziele, Kosten & DauerAnbieter: WeBuyBooks, Rossendale, LANCS, Vereinigtes Königreich
Zustand: Very Good. Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Artikel-Nr. wbb0022804960
Anzahl: 1 verfügbar
Anbieter: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, Vereinigtes Königreich
Hardback. Zustand: Fine. Artikel-Nr. GOR013906585
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Anbieter: WorldofBooks, Goring-By-Sea, WS, Vereinigtes Königreich
Hardback. Zustand: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Artikel-Nr. GOR006002012
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Anbieter: MW Books, New York, NY, USA
First Edition. Fine cloth copy in an equally fine dust-wrapper. Particularly well-preserved overall; tight, bright, clean and especially sharp-cornered. Physical description: 118p. ; 21cm. Subjects: Aeroplanes -- Models -- Fiction. 1 Kg. Artikel-Nr. 320142
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Anbieter: Kennys Bookstore, Olney, MD, USA
Zustand: Very Good. 2002. Hardcover. Good clean copy with some minor shelf wear. Dustwrapper has some minor edge wear but remains very good. . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland. Artikel-Nr. KKD0003694
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Anbieter: Kennys Bookshop and Art Galleries Ltd., Galway, GY, Irland
Zustand: Very Good. 2002. Hardcover. Good clean copy with some minor shelf wear. Dustwrapper has some minor edge wear but remains very good. . . . . Artikel-Nr. KKD0003694
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Anbieter: D2D Books, Berkshire, Vereinigtes Königreich
Hardcover. Zustand: New. Flamingo, 2002. Hardcover with dj as a fold out poster, pages are lightly tanned but this is A BRAND NEW BOOK UNUSED. Full refund if not satisfied. 24 hour despatch. If not pictured in this listing, a scan of the actual book is available on request. Artikel-Nr. nf3138
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Anbieter: BookLovers of Bath, Peasedown St. John, BATH, Vereinigtes Königreich
Hardback in Dust Wrapper. Zustand: Near Fine. Zustand des Schutzumschlags: Near Fine. First edition (first printing). Hardback. Dust wrapper over blue boards with silver titles to the spine; Measures 8" x 5¼" (0.6 kg); pp 118; || The book is on the shelf, ready to be appropriately packed, and posted from the pastoral paradise of Peasedown St. John, Bath, by a real bookseller in a real book shop - with my personal guarantee and beady eye on the Consumer Contracts Regulations. REMEMBER! Buying my copy means the book shop Jack Russells get their supper! My Book #113446 ||. Artikel-Nr. 113446
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