Mauk
Publisher: Atlas Contact
Mauk is old and sick and lies in a bed by the window. He is cared for by Jenny, the daughter of a woman he once loved. Mauk lives in his memories: he was a child who lived on the background, until his mother got injured. It was too much to comprehend. At that moment, Henri, the big brave brother he always wished for, overpowered his thoughts. Henri protects him, not from the violence of a threatening outside world, but also from that of his tyrannical father. When Mauk faces tragedy at the age of twelve, Henri is the only one who can help him. Mauk is the story of a traumatized child who cannot fight his father’s demons, but that through his distorted imagination manages to hold on to life.
Praise:
‘Stylistical high quality. How Jan Vantoortelboom can write!’ – Nederlands Dagblad
‘Reading Mauk is digging deep to reach the bottom, where gold is found.’ ★ ★ ★ ★ – de Volkskrant
‘Mauk is a complex but rich novel. You have to savour this book, take it slowly and attentively to fully enjoy it.” – Hebban
