L. H. Wiener

The small, promotional publication of Haanvroeg consists of a single story lifted from the book Eindelijk volstrekt alleen (2008) in which it was published as a story or part under a different title, namely Wim Aaij. This publication history complicates the appreciation of Haanvroeg in two ways. Firstly, L.H. Wiener's work is often classified as a hybrid between a novel and short story; this raises the question to what extent Haanvroeg can be appreciated in isolation. Then, the title is hard show more to explain. The original title is much more apt.

L.H. Wiener is a relatively unknown, marginalized Dutch author. The publication of Eindelijk volstrekt alleen coincided with the 40th anniversary of his career as an author. The book takes the form of a tempestuous thunderstorm, an explosion of anger at all an everything around the main protagonist, to liberate him from his past and everything that has made him who he is. It is a veritable outburst of dissatisfaction with his current life, and the Dutch literary landscape of date.

Much of Wiener's work is described as autobiographical, which may mean that the first person narrator is the author. Haanvroeg is the biography of his authorship. It describes how he developed as an author in close rivalry to another young man from his small Dutch hometown, a rivalry in which he felt the other was superior; however, the other, "Wim Aaij" prematurely dies from cancer, and Haanvroeg is also an hommage to this dead friend and colleague.

In Haanvroeg Wiener vents his anger vis-a-vis the contemporary literary scene in the Netherlands. He refers to another Dutch author (whom?) as follows:

'Ronny Basart, weet je nog? Heeft in 1997, precies dertig jaar nadien, een dikke roman uitgebracht, De laatste lach, en daarmee zijn schrijversambitie meer dan waar gemaakt. Alleen al vanwege de pagina's 252-254 van zijn boek, waar een hilaries mortiervuur aan benamingen voor het mannelijk geslachtsdeel plaatsvindt. Ik had mij toen reeds lang van hem afgewend, hetgeen niet wegneemt dat dit boek zonder meer het predikaat 'meesterlijk' verdient, maar ja, veel te moeilijk en te literair voor het Kluun-publiek.
(p. 47/48)

An more in general he shows his disgust for chick-lit and any form of literature in which immediate gratification is celebrated over literary style, as follows:

Seks verkoopt, altijd. Een mooie kont op het omslag, of zo'n rooie ronde pijpmond en de kassa rinkelt. Dat gaat nooit over. Mijn nieuwe boek heet 'Eindelijk volstrekt alleen', een dodelijke titel natuurlijk, commercieel gesproken. 'De meisjes van 6 gym alfa' is veel beter. Of wat dacht je van 'Diana's lillende lippen', of 'Babettes bolle billen'.
Ik zou rijk kunnen worden, als ik een kut had en niet kon schrijven. (p. 53/54). show less

Zeeangst by the Dutch author L. H. Wiener is a log book, really. A diary of a voyage along the west coast of the Netherlands, the south coast of the island of Britain, and the Isle of Whight. It is both very good, and still slightly disappointing. By this I mean, it could easily have become a much better book.

In the opening sections, the author describes how, as a 14-year-old boy, he nearly drowned, while out at sea. Following the accident, they also had to wait long for rescue, so the whole show more experience saddled him up with a lifelong fear of the sea. Paradoxically, sailing hasd become (or remained) the passion of his life. In the first sections of the book the author also describes how he acquaired the ship and named it Argos. With his wife on board, and their cat, they then set sail on this voyage.

Early in his career, Wiener was a teacher of English at a high school. Thus, his interest and extensive knowledge of English literature and his love for the UK are easily understood. References to English and American writers appear aplenty throughout the book.

The book has a somewhat mundane character as it describes mooring in various harbours and the usual banter with other people on the water. The episode about bringing the cat into the UK is hilarious, although fear rather than sarcasm is the overall emotion in this passage. I think the book includes too much specialist terminology about sailing and parts of the ship, and although a glossary is included this distracts from the rest of the text which is simple and straightforward.

L. H. Wiener is a writer who appeared rather unsuccesful for a long time, and only recently has broken through to a wider readership, no doubt through the years of persistence.

In the context of Dutch literature, Zeeangst is definitely an innovation of the genre, as for a nation whose history is so closely linked with the sea, there are very few travelogues in the form of descriptions of voyages, especially in modern times. However, in recent years there is a tremendous growth in the interest of sail boats, particularly with restored old ship, and many historical cities organize fleet shows, inviting tall ships and historical vessels to visit their harbours.

Zeeangst is a welcome book for readers who are interested in sailing and sail boats. show less

Vlot en bekwaam geschreven roman met als minpunten een jacht op effect, een grote uitleggerigheid en een te lang uitgesponnen finale.

Just a thin in-between 'book' (story might be a better word). A nice way to get to know a writer. I now know I won't read more by him. The book is too much autobiografical about a moment in time (1960s) and a way of living (writer on university in bragging student clubs) I don't care about.
This story is quite sad, as it tells about a friend and rival who dies in his twenties.

http://boekenwijs.blogspot.com/2009/12/haanvroeg.html