Stefan Hertmans

Born in 1951, Stefan Hertmans has published novels, short-story collections, essays and poetry. In 1995 he was awarded the three-yearly Flemish poetry prize. He has also received two nominations for the VSB Poetry Prize. His novel War and Turpentine was longlisted for the International Man Booker Prize and the Best Translated Book Award. David McKay is a translator of Dutch literature living in The Hague. He received the 2017 Vondel Prize for his translation of Hertmans’ War and Turpentine.

Books by Stefan Hertmans

The Ascent

Stefan Hertmans

A fascinating historical novel based on the author’s discovery that his home was once owned by a member of the SS

The Convert

Stefan Hertmans

An epic story of passion and forbidden love, set against the religious wars of the Middle Ages.

War and Turpentine

Stefan Hertmans

Shortly before his death in 1981, Stefan Hertmans' grandfather gave him a couple of filled exercise books.