Jan van Aken (writer)
Jan van Aken | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 9, 1961 Herwen en Aerdt, The Netherlands |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Occupation(s) | Docent, writer |
| Notable work | De valse dageraad (2001), Koning voor een dag (2008) |
Jan van Aken (Herwen en Aerdt, August 9, 1961) is a Dutch writer, that worked in the cultural sector and in automation. He is currently a docent at the Schrijversvakschool in Amsterdam.
He has written the following historical novels:
- Het oog van de basilisk (2000)
- De valse dageraad (2001)
- De dwaas van Palmyra (2003)
- Het fluwelen labyrint (2005)
- Koning voor een dag (2008)
- De afvallige (2013)
This writer's first three books take place before the Early Modern Period. In Het oof van de basilisk we read about Epiphanius Rusticus in the aftermath of the Roman Empire, while we become acquainted with Hroswith van Wikala in the Middle Ages in De valse dageraar, during the first millennium. His third novel takes place in the 1st Century and describes the travels of the philosopher Apollonius of Tyana to India, as later seen through the eyes of his student, Damis.
Het fluwelen labyrint takes place in Amsterdam during the 1980s. The writer leaves no doubts regarding the meaning of this book, that plays on the timeless day, August 8, 1988, is a historical novel. While the main character of De Dwaas van Palmyra always tries to escapes the myths that are holding him prisoner, the wanderings of the protagonist Einar in Het fluwelen labyrint are a desperate search for a lost paradise, the mythical Amsterdam that the title of the book refers to.
We follow the historic poet Hipponax in Koning voor een dag, who lived in Ionia during the 6th Century. Hipponax was known for him sharp tongue and his coarse language. For this book, van Aken used both original fragments from Hipponax as well as fictional poems from his own hand.
Jan van Aken's most recent novel is De Afvallige, takes place during the time of Julian the Apostate, seen through the eyes of a group of boys belonging to a Christian Sect who ended up being involved in an assassination plot. These large-scale novels cover the period between 350 and 392 C.E..
Van Aken is already called the "Dutch Umberto Eco". He was previously published in the magazines Optima and Nieuw Wereldtijdschrift. His second novel was nominated for the Seghers Literatuurprijs. De afvallige came on the longlist for both the AKO and Libris literature prizes.
References
- "Jan Van Aken." Letterenfonds. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Nov. 2015. http://www.letterenfonds.nl/en/author/150/jan-van-aken