Nobel laureate Modiano is hardly known in the Netherlands – Parool.nl

09-10-14 18:26 pm – Source: Reuters

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Patrick Modiano in 2003 © anp

The French writer Patrick Modiano, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, has no large readership in the Netherlands

. In the Netherlands, he is very well appreciated, but he has no long-range, ‘says Annette Portegies publisher Querido, who spends his novels in our country. ‘We sell of each title an average of 4,000 copies, while a huge bestselling author in France. “

Querido the last 15 years, the Dutch publisher. During that time, the Frenchman has never been in the Netherlands for book signings and readings, says Portegies. “He does not likes to travel and to give interviews.”

Modiano according Portegies a typical writer’s writer. ” “Many of his readers are writers and the reviews are always positive. For example, Arnon Grunberg is a huge fan. ” The books by the author include popular because of the recurring theme. “It’s wistful and melancholic books and they always take place in Paris,” explains Portegies.

The same book
Modiano himself said to have been ‘troubled’ the award of the Nobel Prize for Literature. That said the Frenchman today in a telephone interview with the official website of the Nobel Committee. He did ‘not’ expect the award of the prize and finds the award by the committee “very nice.” Modiano is even happier about the price of Stockholm because he has “a Swedish grandson.”

Modiano was walking on the street in Paris and heard from his daughter, who called him that he had won the prize. He writes for 45 years and has the feeling that he writes a little ‘always the same book. “

Querido definitely has 20 novels by the writer translated into Dutch. Thursday, there were two titles available: ‘horizon’ (2011) and “The grass of the Night” (2013). Both books were, according Querido sold out within an hour after the award of the Nobel Prize to Modiano was disclosed. The publisher has quickly reprinted put in motion so that the titles are in the course of next week available.

This spring appears Modiano’s latest novel in the Netherlands, ‘Pour que tu ne to perdes pass dans le quartier “(the Dutch title is not yet known.)