Bert Natter Wins Libris Literatuur Prijs for WWII Novel
Dutch author Bert Natter has been awarded the Libris Literatuur Prijs, the most prestigious literary prize in the Dutch-speaking world, for his novel 'Aan het einde van de oorlog' (At the End of the War). The book, which earned him €50,000, is set on April 20, 1945, during the final days of World War II. It narrates the events of a single day in a concentration camp through the perspectives of 31 different characters, centering on the frantic search for the missing son of the camp commandant. The jury praised the work for its gripping, cinematic portrayal that forces readers to confront the horror of the Holocaust and the complex human dilemmas faced by those interned. Natter emphasized that his goal was to move beyond one-dimensional depictions of heroes and monsters, highlighting how ordinary people can be lured into authoritarian regimes. The award ceremony was broadcast live on Nieuwsuur. Other shortlisted authors from the Netherlands and Belgium received runner-up prizes. This win underscores the continuing relevance of historical fiction in examining moral complexities within wartime contexts.
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Bert Natter Wins Libris Literatuur Prijs for WWII Novel
Dutch author Bert Natter has been awarded the Libris Literatuur Prijs, the most prestigious literary prize in the Dutch-speaking world, for his novel 'Aan het einde van de oorlog' (At the End of the War). The book, which earned him €50,000, is set on April 20, 1945, during the final days of World War II. It narrates the events of a single day in a concentration camp through the perspectives of 31 different characters, centering on the frantic search for the missing son of the camp commandant. The jury praised the work for its gripping, cinematic portrayal that forces readers to confront the horror of the Holocaust and the complex human dilemmas faced by those interned. Natter emphasized that his goal was to move beyond one-dimensional depictions of heroes and monsters, highlighting how ordinary people can be lured into authoritarian regimes. The award ceremony was broadcast live on Nieuwsuur. Other shortlisted authors from the Netherlands and Belgium received runner-up prizes. This win underscores the continuing relevance of historical fiction in examining moral complexities within wartime contexts.
DutchNews.nl