AFPThe Dutch Yael van der Wouden met the British Queen Camilla yesterday at Clarence House, London
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 01:25
Yael van der Wouden, the first Dutch nominee for the prestigious Booker Prize, was unable to cash in on her nomination. The literature prize for English fiction went to British writer Samantha Harvey for her book Orbitala novel set aboard the International Space Station.
Harvey is the nineteenth woman to be honored in the 55-year history of the Booker Prize. This year was the first time that five of the six finalists were women. Van der Wouden competed with her book The Safekeeptranslated into Dutch as The storage.
Hold up a mirror
Harvey started her book during the corona pandemic, in which the locked-up characters spend sixteen sunrises and sunsets together over the course of a day.
EPABritish writer Samantha Harvey won the Booker Prize this year with her book ‘Orbital’
“To look at Earth from space is like a child standing in front of a mirror and realizing for the first time that the person in the mirror is themselves,” Harvey said as she accepted the trophy. “What we do to the earth, we do to ourselves.” The jury speaks of a “wonderful novel” that “makes our world strange and new to us”.
Harvey is the first woman since 2019 to win the award. Last year the award went to Irish writer Paul Lynch for his dystopian novel Prophet Song, inspired, among other things, by the Syrian civil war. In his book he describes how a country can descend into totalitarianism and war.
Gossip in another language
The book by Van der Wouden (37) is set in Overijssel after the Second World War and is about the brooding tension between two young women. The book has been positively received abroad and has become a bestseller, but in the Netherlands the attention has so far lagged behind.
“It is self-evident that the story was treated with a bit more skepticism in the Netherlands,” the writer, who partly grew up in Israel, said in conversation with Nieuwsuur this week. “It’s a story about the Netherlands written in English. It’s a bit like someone is gossiping about you in another language.”
Nieuwsuur spoke to Van der Wouden about her book and nomination:
Will Dutch Van der Wouden win the Booker Prize?
Four years ago, the then 29-year-old author Marieke Lucas Rijneveld became the first Dutch person to win the International Booker Prize, the prize for literature translated into English. Rijneveld was decorated for this The Discomfort of Eveningthe English translation of debut novel The evening is discomfort.
Earlier this year, the Dutch writer Jente Posthuma competed with five others for the prize with the English translation of her book Which I’d rather not think about. That ultimately went to the German Jenny Erpenbeck.
The Booker Prize Brouhaha: A Dutch Delight and a Cosmic Win!
Ah, the Booker Prize, arguably the literary equivalent of being crowned prom queen, except instead of wicked dance moves, it’s all about the words. And yesterday, British author Samantha Harvey sashayed away with the top honors for her novel Orbital, a gripping tale set aboard the International Space Station. Meanwhile, our very own Dutch star, Yael van der Wouden, took a step back, glancing nervously at the crowd while pondering: “Was it something I said?”
The Dutch Dilemma
Now, don’t get me wrong, Yael van der Wouden is no slouch! With her book, The Safekeep, she’s not only made history as the first Dutch nominee for this coveted prize, but she’s also spun quite the tale of tension between two young women set in Overijssel after the Second World War. However, it seems her compelling narrative fell a bit flat back home. In fact, it’s garnered so much more praise abroad that it’s practically holding a world tour without her!
In a cheeky twist of fate, Van der Wouden herself quipped that receiving attention for a story written in English feels like “someone gossiping about you in another language.” Honestly, if I had a pound for every time I felt excluded from gossip, I’d have enough to buy a small island… or a lifetime supply of chocolate, which let’s be real, is far more appealing.
A Celebration of Women
Let’s give a round of applause to Samantha Harvey, who, with her 19th win among women in 55 years of the Booker Prize, is leading the stampede of female authors into the literary spotlight. That’s right, five out of the six finalists this year were women! Talk about girl power! If we keep passing around awards like this, we might soon need to set up a women’s awards show just to keep up!
Space and Reflection
As for Harvey’s award-winning novel? It touches on existential themes of space, with her statement about gazing at Earth from above likened to a child seeing their own reflection for the first time. Quite poetic, isn’t it? It’s as if every time an astronaut looks down at our blue planet, they’re reminded of all the times they’ve not done the dishes and left their socks on the floor. “What we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves,” Harvey said, perhaps hinting that we should treat our planet with the same respect we demand of our roommates.
The Bigger Picture
It’s worth mentioning that Van der Wouden’s path is not without precedent. Four years ago, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld made history as the first Dutch winner of the International Booker Prize, proving that the Dutch literary scene is simmering with potential. So, while Yael may have missed the Booker Prize boat this year, it seems her nomination has opened doors for future literary greatness. And let’s face it, who doesn’t love a comeback story? You know, the kind where the protagonist finally gets their act together after a series of witty mishaps!
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, as we raise a cocktail (or a cup of tea for the more civilized), let’s celebrate this year’s Booker Prize results. From the cosmos above to the meticulous artistry of storytelling down below, it’s a grand reminder that literature—like space—is vast, compelling, and sometimes just a tad bit daunting. Cheers to a future where all authors, no matter where they hail from, can bask in the recognition and light of literary brilliance!
Yael van der Wouden, the groundbreaking Dutch author nominated for the esteemed Booker Prize, was unfortunately unable to capitalize on her historic nomination. The coveted accolade for English literature was awarded to British novelist Samantha Harvey for her thought-provoking work, Orbital, which intricately unfolds aboard the International Space Station, exploring both human relationships and the vastness of space.
Remarkably, Harvey now stands as the nineteenth woman to clinch this renowned award in its 55-year history. Notably, this year’s roster for the Booker Prize witnessed a significant milestone, with five of the six finalists being women, a reflection of the shifting dynamics in contemporary literature. Van der Wouden’s book, The Safekeep, translated into Dutch as The Storage, showcases her unique storytelling prowess and deep emotional insights.
Harvey, in her acceptance speech, beautifully articulated the experience of viewing Earth from the cosmos: “To look at Earth from space is like a child standing in front of a mirror and realizing for the first time that the person in the mirror is themselves,” she remarked. She further emphasized the interconnectedness of humanity and our planet, stating, “What we do to the earth, we do to ourselves,” highlighting the urgent message encapsulated within her narrative. The jury described her work as a “wonderful novel” that artfully renders our world both strange and new.
This year marked a pivotal moment for female authors, with Harvey becoming the first woman to take home the Booker Prize since 2019. The previous year, the prestigious award recognized Irish novelist Paul Lynch for his darkly compelling work, Prophet Song, which draws inspiration from contemporary global issues, including the harrowing Syrian civil war. Lynch’s narrative explores the harrowing descent of a nation into authoritarianism and chaos.
The narrative of Van der Wouden’s book, set in Overijssel in the aftermath of the Second World War, delves into the complex and often fraught relationship between two young women, imbued with a palpable sense of tension. While the book has achieved international acclaim, becoming a bestseller abroad, it has yet to attract comparable interest within the Netherlands.
Van der Wouden, now 37, reflected on the reception of her work during a recent interview with Nieuwsuur: “It is self-evident that the story was treated with a bit more skepticism in the Netherlands,” she noted, offering insight into the unique challenges she faces as a Dutch writer presenting her narrative in English. “It’s a bit like someone is gossiping about you in another language,” she added, capturing the paradox of cultural perceptions.
Four years prior, Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, at just 29, became the first Dutch author to earn the International Booker Prize, celebrating the English translation of her debut novel, The Discomfort of Evening, lauded for its profound emotional depth and intricacy. Earlier this year, Dutch writer Jente Posthuma also competed in this prestigious arena, vying for the award with the English edition of her novel, Which I’d Rather Not Think About. Ultimately, the prize eluded her, going to German author Jenny Erpenbeck.
Ous award was won by Irish author Paul Lynch for his dystopian masterpiece *Prophet Song*, which draws parallels to the ongoing struggles in global politics, illustrating the harrowing descent of society into chaos and totalitarianism.
Meanwhile, Dutch writer Yael van der Wouden’s novel *The Safekeep*, which delves into the complex emotional landscape of two young women in post-World War II Overijssel, has received acclaim abroad but faced a colder reception in her homeland. In a candid interview, van der Wouden expressed the peculiar sensation of her story being perceived with skepticism, noting that it felt like “someone gossiping about you in another language.” This sentiment underscores the challenges faced by authors who venture into territories beyond familiar dialects and cultural contexts.
The 2023 Booker Prize’s landscape has been marked by a significant increase in female representation, with five women finalists illuminating the rich narratives women bring to literature today. This year’s outcome may herald a promising future for female authors, echoing the trailblazing achievements of Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, who became the first Dutch winner of the International Booker Prize with her novel *The Discomfort of Evening*. Rijneveld’s success showcases the burgeoning talent within the Dutch literary scene, encouraging emerging writers like van der Wouden to persist despite setbacks.
As we toast to this year’s Booker Prize results, we acknowledge the broader implications for literature and the importance of fostering diverse voices. With each word penned and each story shared, the literary world continues to evolve, reflecting a spectrum of human experiences that captivate and inspire readers globally. Here’s to the authors who dare to explore the depths of humanity, whether through cosmic voyages or intimate narratives, and to a future bursting with literary brilliance yet to unfold!
