Theun de Vries (1907–2005)

The 1966 Boekenweek gift was written by the historical novelist Theun de Vries, and for some reason it is significantly longer than the usual novella format, running to 158 pages. It’s an unapologetically misogynistic version of the Hengist and Horsa story, which seems to have been loosely based on Geoffrey of Monmouth’s 12th century version of the legend and the slightly later account by the Flemish writer Jacob van Maerlant (there is no historical mention of Hengist and Horsa before show more Bede, and most historians nowadays seem to agree that they were entirely mythical).

De Vries makes Hengist and his brother the sons of the ruler of Friesland, invited over to Britain by Vortigern as mercenaries to help deal with a Pict problem. After defeating the invaders in the north, Hengist strongarms Vortigern into allowing his people to settle in Kent, and it looks as though the Germanic roughs will be peacefully integrated into Romano-British society. But Hengist’s power-crazed and sexually-insatiable daughter Reonix (Rowena in Geoffrey’s version) single-handedly sabotages this and by repeatedly seducing leaders on all sides provokes a ruthless and largely senseless war in which the surviving Roman culture is destroyed and the British are slaughtered or enslaved. De Vries makes Reonix into a mixture of Elf-Queen, Bond Girl and Cleopatra, very sixties and quite fun, but he does seem to have put an implausible amount of historical blame on her shoulders. show less

Kenau by Theun de Vries is a short historical novel (127 pp.) that describes one episode in the life of Kenau Simonsdochter Hasselaar. Kenau is a historical figure, but it is believed her fame and reputation are founded on myth. The short novel describes the blockade and the fall of the city of Haarlem during the 80-Year War and the role Kenau played during that siege.

The novel was written in 1939, but first published after the Second World War in 1945. The novel celebrates the strength of show more women, and the spirit of freedom to resist oppression, particularly from an occupying enemy. It is peculier, but probably historically accurate, that Germans appear as allies in the siege of Haarlem, opposing the Spanish enemy. The novel seems to portray the nobility as weak and unreliable, while the Prince of Orange seems to care little about the Haarlem population. The novel celebrates the strength of the common people, and women.

The novel is very well-written and an enjoyable read, able to stir up feelings of nationalism. The coda is lyrical, and uplifting, raising the spirit of freedom to a higher plain. It is likely that Theun de Vries wrote this short novel as the threat of Nazi Germany loomed large, in 1939. show less

This novel belongs to the early work of Theun de Vries. It is a historical novel set in the early Renaissance. While the historical context and the historical figure Josquin des Près a potentially very interesting background provide, the main character of the novel is a fictitious young man. The first part of the novel is gripping but later on, as focus shifts the story seems of little interest, as the role of Des Près is marginal and the main focus is on the insignificant main character. show more The overall atmosphere of the novel is that of young adult literature. show less

Theun de Vries was a Dutch novelist. In 1981, he agreed with Jan Boelens to a series of interviews, hoping to change the public opinion about him, and present what themes really matter in his works. Those interviews formed the basis for this book, which reads like a first-person autobiographical nattative.

Theun de Vries grew up in Frisia (Friesland) in an impoverished community, unaware that his parents were actually quite rich, but lived soberly. However, his father went bankrupt in 1923, show more following the economic downturn of the Great War. Around that time, De Vries also dropped out of school. He had to work himself up through hard work and self-study. From the early 1930s he became interested in Marxism, and during the Second World War spent some time in hiding as the Nazis might round him up as a communist. From 1943 he worked as a journalist in the resistance. Years later he would publish Het meisje met het rode haar, a novel about the resistance.

During the 1930s through 50s he met many Dutch writers. De Vries started his writing career as a poet, but soon found himself writing novels, particularly many historical novels, and biographical non-fiction. He also wrote radio plays and essays. However, he did not write regional novels based set within the rural community, such as Wadman and De Jong.

From the end of the war until the early 1980s, Theun de Vries was mainly seen as a communist. With this publication, he wants to set the record straight. De Vries points out that most of his novels are about the position of the artist in society.

Gesprekken op donderdag. Theun de Vries praat met Jan Boelens provides many biographical details and personal ideas of Theun de Vries and his work, which is discussed against the background of recent Dutch history and writers that were important during that period. At the back, the book includes a short bibliography of the works of Theun de Vries but is list is incomplete. show less