In In the Shadow of the Ark (De Arkvaarders), Anne Provoost develops the bible story about Noah from barely three short chapters into an impressive epic novel of timeless dimensions.

This book about the Flood has unleashed a deluge of translations. There are already versions of In the Shadow of the Ark in Polish, Turkish, Swedish and Danish, as well as English and, of course, the original Dutch.

The publishing houses, Protea in Pretoria and Qirtas in Addis Ababa, signed contracts this month. The Afrikaans translation will be done by Daniel Hugo, who has already translated Tom Lanoye, Herman de Coninck and Harry Mulisch. The Ethiopian publisher will publish the book along with a few works by Hugo Claus.

Now more than ever, this bible story is timeless and topical. The novel by Anne Provoost asks compelling questions. Don’t uncritical ‘righteousness’ and unconditional faith in an unreasonable conviction lead to injustice and self-interest? Does being ‘chosen’ generate perversion? What is real heroism? Must we be blind to threats?

Fortunately you don’t, as a reader, get answers. In the Shadow of the Ark is not a moralising pamphlet.

Anne Provoost’s work has been discussed on two occasions in The Low Countries Yearbook.