Stefan Hertmans

Stefan Hertmans (1951) is one of the most distinguished and prominent Flemish authors. He is a recipient of numerous accolades, both domestic and international. He is a poet, writer, and essayist with an enviable opus of works. He also lectures at some of the most prestigious European universities. The regular guest on international stages excites both domestic and foreign readers with his erudite, poetic literature, in which he often touches upon the topics of remembrance, childhood, and the relationship between fact and fiction. Despite a successful writing career spanning over three decades, the author finally achieved his breakthrough with his most recent novel titled Oorlog en terpentijn (War and Turpentine), which was published at the centennial of World War I and immediately sparked the interest of the most influential publishing companies around the globe.

Oorlog en terpentijn (War and Turpentine; translated to Slovene as Vojna in terpentin)

Shortly before his death, Urban Martien, Stefan Hertmans's grandfather, gives his grandson two old notebooks, which he, in fear that they may contain unexpected secrets, had been afraid to open for years. His grandfather's life was marked by a poor childhood during the final gasps of the 19th century, the horrific experience of World War I, a love lost far too soon, and a fiery passion for painting. In order to dig up the real truth about the life of his grandfather, Hertmans combined his own memories with the quotes from his grandfather's notebooks to create a touching, melancholic story full of symbolism. It is not just a story about the life of one extraordinary man, but rather a story about a whole generation of them. It is a story about the tragic Flemish history. It is a story about hidden desires. It is a story about the wounded soul of a simple man caught between the war and turpentine.

Translated from Dutch to Slovene by Staša Pavlović.  Abstract translated from the Slovene to English by Janko Jemec.

Staša Pavlović obtained a degree in Polish Language and Literature and Comparative Literature from the University of Ljubljana. She translates literature from Serbian, Croatian, Polish, and Dutch. This year she was honoured with the Radojka Vrančič Award for young translators for her Slovene translation of the book Mercedes-Benz by Polish author Pawel Huelle.