Manon Uphoff
(The Netherlands, 1962) is a Dutch writer, screenwriter and visual artist. She made her debut in 1995 with the collection of short stories Begeerte (Desire), which was nominated for the AKO Literature Prize, the Anton Wachter Prize and the ECI Prize. The title story was awarded the Rabobank Spring Prize for Literature. Her first novel Gemis (1997) was nominated for the Libris Literature Prize. Her most recent book, Vallen is als vliegen (Falling is Like Flying, 2019), was shortlisted for both the 2019 Bookspot Literature Prize and the 2020 Libris Literature Prize. The novel was named the best Dutch-language novel of 2019 by NRC Handelsblad and Humo. Uphoff was editor of the literary magazine De Revisor and board member and president of PEN Netherlands. As a screenwriter, she wrote the feature film screenplay Een Groot Geweld (Topkapi Films).
Past events
Home & Violence
A collage of literary fragments about war and peace under one's own roof, about an unsafe inner world that often remains invisible, about domestic violence. Due to the intimate setting of this program, the doors closed after the start, so be on time.
Home Is Where the Hell Is
Three writers on growing up in violent environments. Israeli David Grossman, Maaza Mengiste who wrote about the Ethiopian revolution, and Jennifer Clement, who described the impact of the drug trade on the lives of young girls.
VPRO De Avonden Live: Christine Otten and Manon Uphoff
Live radio interviews with writers. This part is in Dutch.
Ngwatilo Mawiyoo: The text of my life
The Kenian poet and singer Ngwatilo Miwiyoo chose for the novel 'No longer at ease' by Chinua Achebe. She will read and explain why. In English.
Ece Temelkuran's text of her life
is a poem by Emily Dickinson. The leading journalist and writer from Turkey explains why. In English.
Thé Tjong Khing: The image of my life
The well-known illustrator and strip cartoonist has chosen an image.
Peter van Dongen: the text of my life
The maker of comic strips has chosen a text by the Dutch East-Indian writer Tjalie Robinson. In Dutch.
Bas Heijne's text of his life
is a fragment from the Dutch novel De Stille Kracht by Louis Couperus. Want to know why? In Dutch.
Nelleke Noordervliet: The text of my life
"is the first monologue of Media from Euripides' play" She explains why to Manon Uphoff and Aleid Truijens. In Dutch.
Denise Jannah: The text of my life
'Voor een dag van morgen', the Dutch poem by Hans Andreaus is a text that jazz singer Denise Jannah put to music. In Dutch.
Thomas von der Dunk: The text of my life
The cultural philosopher cannot choose yet. We'll wait and hear. In Dutch.
Frank Westerman: The text of my life
is a a two-line quote from Andrei Platonow. He explains why. In Dutch.
Wim Brands: The text of my life
For one night Manon Uphoff and Aleid Truijens ask their guests which literary text has been most important in their lives. First guest: Television presenter Wim Brands and an Ezra Pound poem. In Dutch.
What I would give my life for
Anousha Nzume talks to Christine Otten (NL), Roland Colastica (Curaçao), Bart van Loo (Belgium) and Manon Uphoff (NL). They were inspired by a confronting question: who or what would I be willing to give my life for? Four writers, four pleas for a cause which sets them on fire. As surprising as moving: the stories and songs of inspired writers and storytellers. In Dutch.
The comfort of the bedside table
Elif Batuman (US/Turkey) reveals in The Possessedhow to bring literature as close to your life as possible. Manon Uphofftells us in Hoe te lezen (How to read) what the writer tries to get across. Marja Pruis questions them about the comfort literature can offer. In English.
