Lending Dutch literature and writers a much-needed hand in their international dealings: that could be one description of the work done by the
Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature. The Foundation’s own mission statement says that it exists 'to promote interest in Dutch-language literature abroad.’ It maintains contacts with a large number of international publishers, and has a stand at major international book fairs, including the Frankfurt Book Fair, the London Book Fair and the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna. It also provides financial support to foreign publishers wishing to publish translations of Dutch or Frisian literature to help cover translation costs, provides subsidies for literary programmes and other promotional activities, and organises writer-in-residence programmes in which a Dutch author lectures at a foreign university for a certain period.
And sometimes those who lend a hand can use an extra boost themselves. That’s why the
British Arts Council in London has decided to support a promotional campaign in England for Dutch literature. It’s the first time that an English institution contributes on this scale to the promotion of Dutch literature. The campaign to put a shoulder to the wheel of Dutch literature in England will take place from August 2009 to June 2010. During that period, a number of eminent Dutch writers will visit literary venues, reading clubs, libraries and literary festivals on the Sceptred Isle. According to the press release, attention will also be paid to ‘the work of the translators and the exceptional quality of their work’. The participating authors and their English publishers are: Tommy Wieringa (Portobello Books), Joris Luyendijk (Reportage Press), Arnon Grünberg (Comma Press) , Geert Mak (Harvill Secker), Frank Westerman (Harvill Secker), Cynthia McLeod (Arcadia Books), Toon Tellegen (Boxer Books) and Otto de Kat (MacLehose Press). And it’s a good thing that attention is being paid to translation as well, because in an amazing twist the latter two authors ended up having even their names translated in the list as shown on the
IFACCA website: the Dutch ‘tonen’ is ‘to show’ in English and thus Toon Tellegen (whose
The Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties comes out on September 1 in the UK) became Show Tellegen, and De Kat turned into Otto the Cat, which makes him sound like a distant cousin of Felix of cartoon-fame. But let me assure you: he’s nothing but a fine writer, whose book
De inscheper has been translated as
Man on the Move by Sam Garrett for MacLehose Press.
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