The Dutch quietest writer received an Instagram-worthy new cover from Das Mag publishers

He has been called the quietest writer in the Netherlands: Albert Alberts (1911-1995), the author of stories in which little seems to happen, but which are worded so suggestively that he is considered one of the greatest stylists of Dutch prose. It is not for nothing that the writer was awarded the PC Hooft Prize shortly before his death.

In 1953 Alberts . published The treesa little novel that Volkskrantcritic Kees Fens later characterized it as ‘an invisible story about an invisible main character’, and as ‘the most beautiful forest book in Dutch literature’.

A sales success is The trees never became. Three reprints were published by Van Oorschot, the last one more than thirty years ago. And just as Albert’s name is starting to fade, Das Mag is venturing out for a reissue. In a press release, the publisher explains why: ‘Why republish a forgotten writer? Don’t we have Mulisch, Reve, Hermans, Haasse, Claus? We see that differently. Tove Ditlevsen has also been overlooked for decades.’

Das Mag thinks ‘that Alberts’ books miraculously did not reach the right readers. For example because he is too much like a writer’s writer was seen, while his books are very accessible’.

Also special: the publisher tries to link old Alberts fans to young readers, via a call in The Green Amsterdammer: ‘Publisher (Das Mag) is looking for A. Alberts fans (m/f/x, 50+) who want to transfer their love to young readers (m/f/x, 27-). You can have an ex on our behalf. to give away. Mail to [email protected].’

Das Mag thinks that all of this should be accompanied by a strong eye-catcher, because the old covers were very modest: ‘That suited the work of the writer, but it doesn’t stick as much. You have to want to pick up a book, stroke it, adore it. And Instagram wants something too.’

So Lyanne Tonk designed a cover with bright orange capitals and an unorthodox floating O.

It does not matter that the gnarled pollard willows do not necessarily rhyme with the Kroondomein in which Alberts set his story: they provide the busiest cover that The trees has known.