Andreas Burnier (1931–2002)

Each book is a danger. This title is a reference to an essay written by Andreas Burnier. Upon her death in 2002, it was found that at that time no single work of Burnier was in print, and publishers rushed to reprint some of her works. Also, a compilation of interviews, letters, essays and fragments was compiled, and published under the title Een gevaar dat de ziel in wil. Essays, brieven en interviews 1965-2002: A danger that wants to enter the soul.

As well as both taking their titles from show more the same source, nl Each book is a danger that wants to enter the soul, these two books are companion volumes, both compilations of interviews, letters, fragments and essays.

Elk boek is een gevaar is published in the prestigious Prive Domein series, a book series which was previously exclusively for ego documents by (dead) authors. While previously the editions could exist of inedited materials, they were usually selected reprints of published ego documents such as diaries or correspondence. However, for the past 25 years, the series includes ego documents of living authors, including diaries which were specifically written for inclusion in the series. Elk boek is een gevaar is a new variant in this genre in the sense that it is a selection made by an external editor, rather than the author, and that the author has not willed or consented to the publication of these materials. Although this does not seem so unusual, the current edition does seem to include a lot of material of very questionable quality. It isn't difficult to imagine that the original author would have second thoughts about publishing these materials.

In the introduction, the editor, Ronit Palache, explains how she dug into and read every scrap of paper in the archive of Andreas Burnier before starting with her selection. This thoroughness suggests that she intended to get to the core, to reveal the essence of Burnier. The selection reads like a toppled archive. It seems to consist of rare and unusual letters and fragments which likely were never intended for publication. Much of the material is extremely boring. This is the selection of someone who was obsessed with her subject, who wanted to prove something (to herself) or who may have been asked to dig up material which was previously unpublished, and had better remained that way. I can, proverbially, imagine the author turning over in her grave. show less

Published in 1965, this is the earliest novel by the Dutch author Andreas Burnier. A short, but interesting novel that seems to play with the concept of gender. Although I had to read some passages twice, I enjoyed this.

An essay about justice by the Dutch university lecturer C.I. Dessaur better known as the novelist Andreas Burnier.

Zoals alle romans van Burnier, uitgezonderd misschien Het Jongensuur (1969), is ook dit boek een cultuurkritisch essay met verhalende elementen. Hoofdmotief is de zoektocht van de vertellende ik naar haar joodse identiteit, en eigenlijk naar waarheid en geestelijke bevrijding uit onze ontmenselijkte werkelijkheid. Die queeste krijgt gestalte in 14 brieven aan een onbekende rabbi, waarin ze vertelt over haar jeugd, vorming en carrière en ook over de roman die ze schrijft en waarvan we show more brokstukken te lezen krijgen. Het verhaal gaat over de jongeling Gideon die een baan als vertaler accepteert bij een louche internationaal softwareconcern. Zijn moeder, Hester, vertelt hem pas op 25-jarige leeftijd over zijn vader, David Reiser, een joodse classicus die voortdurend kankert op de verloedering van de maatschappij en de teloorgang van de cultuur. Deze drie personages zijn afsplitsingen van de 'ik': Gideon is de eeuwige adolescent in haar, Hester draagt haar verleden als joods meisje in de oorlog, David is haar cerebrale alter ego. Allerlei thema's uit eerder werk komen in dit boek terug, dat daardoor een soort synthese vormt. Authentiek, grimmig en prikkelend. show less