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'I had to bring the ghosts in this house to life.' Stefan Hertmans on his new novel De opgang

Four years and five versions were needed for his new novel De opgang. And never before in his forty years of writing has writing been such a torment for Stefan Hertmans (69). He struggled with his book, and with his character, SS man Willem Verhulst. 'I had to bring the ghosts in this house to life.'
Patershol
The black front door, chipped and sallow, has not seen a lick of paint since Stefan Hertmans gave it that colour 40 years ago. From his former home a...

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A Quattro Mani

Photographer Marc Brester and journalist Vivian de Gier can read and write with each other - literally. As partners in crime, they travel the world for various media, for reviews of the finest literature and personal interviews with the writers who matter. Ahead of the troops and beyond the delusion of the day.View Author posts

Four years and five versions were needed for his new novel De opgang. And never before in his forty years of writing has writing been such a torment for Stefan Hertmans (69). He struggled with his book, and with his character, SS man Willem Verhulst. 'I had to bring the ghosts in this house to life.'
Patershol
The black front door, chipped and sallow, has not seen a lick of paint since Stefan Hertmans gave it that colour 40 years ago. From his former home a...

You can now log in to continue reading!

Welcome to the Culture Press archive! As a member, you have access to all, over 4,000 posts we have made since our inception in 2009!

(Recent posts (under three months old) are available for all to read, thanks to our members!)

Become a member, or log in below:

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