Annelies Verbeke (edit name/settings)

Annelies Verbeke became instantly famous with her successful first novel Slaap! (Sleep! 2003). The Dutch edition sold more than 70,000 copies and was published in eighteen countries. Her second novel, Reus (Giant, 2006), and her collection of short stories Groener gras (Greener Grass, 2007) attracted attention for her surprisingly unusual realism and lightly bizarre and absurd humour. Annelies Verbeke also writes columns, film scripts and plays. With her new novel, Vissen redden, a new highlight in her career, she strengthens her position as one of the most prominent authors of her generation.
‘My stories are usually about the underdog,’ says Verbeke, ‘because to my mind, he is closer to the essence of life, and is therefore more interesting in his quest for his own truth. I want to move people, make them laugh and give them a feeling of solidarity, in the hope that this – even if only briefly – will draw them a little closer together.’