Hans Vervoort

(1939) belongs to the last generation of writers that grew up in the Dutch-Indies during and after the war. A childhood in troubled times, however one can conclude from his stories that it does not necessarily mean an unhappy childhood. In 1953 together with his parents he was forced to leave for the Netherlands. A fourteen year old exile, a victim of the colonial circumstances. Homesickness set in. He finished school and began work as an opinion-poll researcher. Later becoming a publisher of magazines such as Vrij Nederland and Opzij. At the same time he wrote collections of stories (such as Geluk is voor de dommen - Happiness is for the idiots) and novels (such as Zwarte rijst - Black rice). In 1974 together with his Indonesian wife he returned for the first time to their country of birth, and wrote the travel story Vanonder de Koperen Ploert - Under the burning sun), which ensured him a place in Rob Nieuwenhuys’ Oost-Indische Spiegel (Mirror of the East Indies). His most recent publication is entitled Kind van de Oost (Child of the East) a collection autobiographical childhood stories (sold out and will be reprinted in May 2005)
HV 2005