Gerbrand Bakker (novelist)
Encyclopedia
Gerbrand Bakker is a Dutch
writer. He won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
in 2010 for the English translation of his novel, The Twin
(Boven is het stil). He was the first Dutch writer to win this award, the world's most lucrative individual literary award, with a €100,000 prize. The Twin defeated 155 titles from more than 40 countries to achieve the award.
The judges said his writing was "wonderful: restrained and clear" and that Bakker "excels at dialogue". The Twin has also received praise from J. M. Coetzee.
when he first thought up the book. He thought about a son who might "do something terrible to his father" but was left "frustrated" when the idea failed to progress any further until one day he began to write at random. Boven is het stil was published in 2006 and The Twin followed in 2008.
Amsterdam
, The Hague
, Utrecht
and Eindhoven libraries all nominated The Twin for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Bakker received the award in Dublin on 17 June 2010. Opting not to give a speech he instead played a tape recording of "Waar is de zon?", the Dutch entry in Eurovision Song Contest 1994
(which also occurred in Dublin). It was the third consecutive debut novel to win the award, succeeding both Man Gone Down
and De Niro's Game
. Bakker spoke of the need "to lie down for a while" when he was announced as the winner and said "It's wonderful". David Colmer translated the book from its original Dutch into the English language and received €25,000 of the prize money for his efforts. Bakker credited Colmer with helping "me realise it really is a book, and I am a writer". He plans to buy a Dutch grey horse with his money as "I just love these big beasts". The Irish Times
literary correspondent, Eileen Battersby, said Bakker's victory was "significant on several counts", noting that two major longlisted Chinese novels had not even advanced to the shortlist.
The Twin was Bakker's debut adult novel. Among his other works are a children's dictionary and Pear Trees Bloom White, a young-adult fiction novel.
Bakker's novel, The Detour, is scheduled to be published in October 2010.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
writer. He won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is an international literary award for a work of fiction, jointly sponsored by the city of Dublin, Ireland and the company IMPAC. At €100,000 it is one of the richest literary prizes in the world...
in 2010 for the English translation of his novel, The Twin
The Twin
The Twin is a novel by Dutch writer Gerbrand Bakker. It won the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award in 2010, making Bakker the first Dutch writer to win the award, the world's most expensive individual literary award, with a €100,000 prize. Boven is het stil was published in 2006 and The...
(Boven is het stil). He was the first Dutch writer to win this award, the world's most lucrative individual literary award, with a €100,000 prize. The Twin defeated 155 titles from more than 40 countries to achieve the award.
The judges said his writing was "wonderful: restrained and clear" and that Bakker "excels at dialogue". The Twin has also received praise from J. M. Coetzee.
Career
In 2002 Bakker was hiking through mountains whilst on holiday in CorsicaCorsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
when he first thought up the book. He thought about a son who might "do something terrible to his father" but was left "frustrated" when the idea failed to progress any further until one day he began to write at random. Boven is het stil was published in 2006 and The Twin followed in 2008.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
and Eindhoven libraries all nominated The Twin for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Bakker received the award in Dublin on 17 June 2010. Opting not to give a speech he instead played a tape recording of "Waar is de zon?", the Dutch entry in Eurovision Song Contest 1994
Eurovision Song Contest 1994
The Eurovision Song Contest 1994 was the 39th Eurovision Song Contest and was held on 30 April 1994 in the Point Theatre in Dublin, Ireland. The presenters were Cynthia Ní Mhurchú and Gerry Ryan. The pair hosted the evening in French, English and Irish...
(which also occurred in Dublin). It was the third consecutive debut novel to win the award, succeeding both Man Gone Down
Man Gone Down
Man Gone Down is the debut novel of U.S. author Michael Thomas. It won the 2009 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, with Thomas receiving a prize of €100,000...
and De Niro's Game
De Niro's Game
De Niro's Game is the debut novel by Lebanese-Canadian writer Rawi Hage, originally published in 2006.The novel's primary characters are Bassam and George, lifelong friends living in wartorn Beirut...
. Bakker spoke of the need "to lie down for a while" when he was announced as the winner and said "It's wonderful". David Colmer translated the book from its original Dutch into the English language and received €25,000 of the prize money for his efforts. Bakker credited Colmer with helping "me realise it really is a book, and I am a writer". He plans to buy a Dutch grey horse with his money as "I just love these big beasts". The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
literary correspondent, Eileen Battersby, said Bakker's victory was "significant on several counts", noting that two major longlisted Chinese novels had not even advanced to the shortlist.
The Twin was Bakker's debut adult novel. Among his other works are a children's dictionary and Pear Trees Bloom White, a young-adult fiction novel.
Bakker's novel, The Detour, is scheduled to be published in October 2010.
Interests
Bakker is a gardener by trade, having achieved his gardening license in 2006. He says writing and gardening "work well together". Bakker works as a skating instructor in winters.External links
- "The story of a man who never got to live" - The Irish TimesThe Irish TimesThe Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...