(1937-2012) is the penname of Hendrik Jan Marsman. Since his debut in 1960 he has published novels, volumes of poetry, novellas and essays on an almost annual basis. In the obituary he recently wrote for In Memoriam for the Flemish House De Buren (The Neighbours) he admits he has a lot of respect for other writers, writing profound, bulky novels. “I myself am a composer of chamber music. Four part pieces is the best I can do", said Bernlef. In his latest novel De een zijn dood (One man's death) he explores a new genre: the thriller. In 2008 he wrote the book week's gift De Pianoman, a story resembling Hersenschimmen, (Out of Mind) his breakthrough of 1984. Both novels were written in a characteristic style: without ‘fuss and bother and hoo-ha’, but in a ‘clear and lucid style’. Out of Mind was adapted for the screen and the stage. In 1984 Bernlef was recipient of the Constantijn Huygens Award for his entrire oeuvre and in 1987 won the AKO Literature Prize for Publiek geheim (Public Secret). As a translator Bernlef introduced numerous American and Swedish poets in the Netherlands, among others the Swedish poet and Nobel Prize winner 2011 Tomas Tranströmer, whose complete works he translated. He died in October 2012.

(Eindhoven, 1959 - Amsterdam 2014) in 1997 made his debut with his collection of poems De karpersimulator (The carp simulator) , published by De Bezige Bij. This was crowned in 1998 with the C.Buddingh award for the best Dutch language debut and also awarded the Van der Hoogt prize. In the same year his poetry collection was nominated for the VSP Poetry award. Erik Menkveld's new work appeared in magazines such as Raster, De Revisor and De Gids. In the beginning of 2001 his second collection of poems Schapen nu! (Sheep now!) was published. He died in march 2014.