Publisher Description

In this volume Paul Vincent presents a compelling collection of prose fiction, memoirs and anecdotes centring on Amsterdam from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century. His selection offers a rare insight into the history and culture of the city. The subjects range from Rembrandt to the persecution of the Jews in World War 2, from barricades in a working-class district during the Depression to a writer's unhealthy obsession with a massage parlour. These eighteennewly-translated tales give the reader, and the traveller, a tantalizing glimpse of the Amsterdam that lies beyond the tourist guidebooks.

Notes

Featuring memoirs alongside short stories, spanning five centuries of history and culture, each tale evokes a different aspect of this fascinating city.

Author Biography

Paul Vincent studied Modern Languages at Cambridge University and Dutch at Amsterdam. From 1967 to 1989 he was Lecturer, then Senior Lecturer, in Dutch, first at Bedford College and afterwards at University College London. Since 1989 he has worked as a freelance translator.

Table of Contents

Gerard Brandt: Vondel in HidingArnold Houbraken: Rembrandt Catches a Pupil Red-HandedJ. Colerus: Spinoza is Banned from the Jewish CommunityJ.C. Nomen: Peter the Great as a Ship's CarpenterW. Otto: An Opponent inveighs against the TramHerman Heijermans: AmstelJacob Israël de Haan: The Black CatAnonymous: Barricades in the JordaanFrans Pointl: Amsterdam 1945-1946Simon Carmiggelt: Itchy FeetRemco Campert: Single to AmsterdamAbel J. Herzberg: Letter to my GrandsonAnton Valens: GoldfishPieter Olde Rikkert: Who's Afraid of Allah Akbar?Sanneke van Hassel: He Directs the TrafficThomas Heerma van Voss: Massage ParlourMargriet de Moor: A Stroke of LuckRobert Anker: Pain in the Spleen

Long Description

In this volume Paul Vincent presents a compelling collection of prose fiction, memoirs and anecdotes centring on Amsterdam from the seventeenth to the twenty-first century. His selection offers a rare insight into the history and culture of the city. The subjects range from Rembrandt to the persecution of the Jews in World War 2, from barricades in a working-class district during the Depression to a writer's unhealthy obsession with a massage parlour. These eighteennewly-translated tales give the reader, and the traveller, a tantalizing glimpse of the Amsterdam that lies beyond the tourist guidebooks.

Feature

Each tale evokes a different aspect of this beautiful and fascinating cityDraws together a selection of genres and literary styles, featuring memoirs alongside short storiesOffers the reader an abundance of local colourSpans five centuries of history and cultureThe latest title in the popular City Tales series

New Feature

-Vondel in Hiding by Gerard Brandt -Rembrandt Catches a Pupil Red-Handed by Arnold Houbraken -Spinoza is Banned from the Jewish Community by J. Colerus -Peter the Great as a Ship's Carpenter by J.C. Nomen -An Opponent inveighs against the Tram by W. Otto -Amstel by Herman Heijermans -The Black Cat by Jacob Isral de Haan -Barricades in the Jordaan by Anonymous -Amsterdam 1945-1946 by Frans Pointl -Itchy Feet by Simon Carmiggelt -Single to Amsterdam by Remco Campert -Letter to my Grandson by Abel J. Herzberg -Goldfish by Anton Valens -Who's Afraid of Allah Akbar? by Pieter Olde Rikkert -He Directs the Traffic by Sanneke van Hassel -Massage Parlour by Thomas Heerma van Voss -A Stroke of Luck by Margriet de Moor -Pain in the Spleen by Robert Anker Vondel in Hiding, Gerard Brandt Rembrandt Catches a Pupil Red-Handed, Arnold Houbraken Spinoza is Banned from the Jewish Community, J. Colerus Peter the Great as a Ship's Carpenter, J.C. Nomen An Opponent inveighs against the Tram, W. Otto Amstel, Herman Heijermans The Black Cat, Jacob Israel de Haan Barricades in the Jordaan, Anonymous Amsterdam 1945-1946, Frans Pointl Itchy Feet, Simon Carmiggelt Single to Amsterdam, Remco Campert Letter to my Grandson, Abel J. Herzberg Goldfish, Anton Valens Who's Afraid of Allah Akbar?, Pieter Olde Rikkert He Directs the Traffic, Sanneke van Hassel Massage Parlour, Thomas Heerma van Voss A Stroke of Luck, Margriet de Moor Pain in the Spleen, Robert Anker

Details