WINNER OF:
THE INKTAAP PRIJS 2006 (voted for by school students)
LIBRIS PRIZE 2005 (the biggest award in the Netherlands)
CONSTANTIJN HUYGENSPRIZE

 

This is a short and extremely powerful new novel from one of Holland’s greatest living writers. Reminiscent of Oscar Wilde’s THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY – a novel narrated by a canvas, an extraordinary eye-witness and participant in an incredible story.

 

A young painter, loved for his fine and true-to-life portraits, receives a commission that is unlike any he’s had before: make a portrait of a dead boy. ‘You will save a life with it’ says the boy’s extremely rich father. The painter knows he will have to surpass himself. He takes on the job. Who was the boy? Why is he dead? Why, when the painting is finished, does the father not come to collect it? And why is the painter actually making this painting?

 

SPECHT EN ZOON is an extraordinary and thrilling novel about the desire to bring someone into the world. It is also about love and death, betrayal and trust, truth and falsehood, lies and honesty. Otten, with all the story-telling talent he has at his disposal, plays with secrets and riddles that the reader can only unravel at the very end. Ten years after his last novel (NOTHING WRONG WITH US) Otten once again shows that he can write in a much shorter space than many of his contemporaries, an ingenious, contemporary and truly gripping novel.

 

‘Willem Jan Otten surpasses himself in his new novel. It sings in places, more than I have ever heard before. Not Gregorian chants but Ottenorian. Read this book with your ears wide open.’ Vrij Nederland

‘Wonderfully the canvas is not the only main character in SPECHT EN ZOON, there is also the painter Felix Vincent with his shame, confusion and doubt. His struggle with the commission he has received is what ultimately makes this a novel that doesn’t just lead you to believe but also to think. As is the purpose of literature.’ NRC Handelsblad

 

‘Otten has hit a nerve.’ Trouw

‘Singular metaphor of birth and disappearance, fascinating questioning on the meaning of life, Specht en zoon depicts a reality in suspension commonly shared by each and every one of us. This original and fascinating narrative brings us to devour the book just as you would eagerly eat every single day you have left to live.” La Gazette

‘Otten goes into the darkest of places. A great book.’ Le Figaro

‘Otten’s novels are captivating puzzles which don’t cease to arouse the reader’s curiosity through an ingenious construction.’ Septentrion

‘This new novel is once again confirmation of Otten’s great talent.’ Nederlands Dagblad

Van Oorschot NL;

 

S Fischer Verlag Germany;

 

Iperborea Italy;

 

Gallimard France;

 

Bonniers Sweden;

 

Munhakdongne Korea;

 

Scribe Australia;

 

SC Humanitas Romania;

 

Los Libros del Lince Spain.

 

 

Material: Dutch, Australian, German, Italian and Swedish editions (143pp).