Authors and Translations
In the picture: Jan de Leeuw in Germany
Flemish author of youth novels, Jan de Leeuw, is very popular in Germany. Publishing house Gerstenberg published his two first titles, ‘Vederland' (Feather land) en ‘Nachtland' (Night land), with the support of the Flemish Literature Fund. These novels won a Flemish Book Cub Award and a Golden Owl Readers' Vote Award for Children's and Youth Literature Prize respectively.
Earlier this year, the same publisher released ‘Schrödinger, Dr. Linda und eine Leiche im Kühlhaus', the German translation of de Leeuw's ‘Bevroren kamers' (Frozen rooms). The main character of this novel takes on the roles of the missing adults in his life: his father is admitted in a mental clinic and his mother has committed suicide. In an attempt to continue daily family life with his eight-year-old sister, he hides his mother's body and takes over her duties and her work.
Soon to be expected is the fourth translation by Gerstenberg: ‘Rode sneeuw' (Red snow), in which the author explores the world of the Vikings in the North during the Middle Ages. Family, honour, blood feuds and the cruelty of nature are the main themes.
In Norway too, de Leeuw has his readers: ‘Midzomernachtzee' (Midsummer night's sea) and ‘Vederland'(Feather land) were published in Norwegian by Leo Forlag.
The German translations are all by Rolf Erdorf. Heidi Bern translated de Leeuw's books into Norwegian.
A maximum of two books by the same author will be eligible for subsidy by the FLF with the same foreign publisher. Hence, the FLF greatly appreciates Gerstenberg's efforts to continue publishing the works of Jan de Leeuw, even without any form of subsidy.
