Maarten 't Hart

His books have been translated into a number of European languages, and he is especially popular in Germany. Three of his novels, Een vlucht regenwulpen (A Flight of Curlews, trans. 1986), De aansprekers (Bearers of Bad Tidings, trans. 1983), and De zonnewijzer (The Sundial, trans. 2004) have appeared in English, as have a few of his short stories. The themes of his novels, which often have an autobiographical component, include: • the hometown of his youth, Maassluis • the strict form of the Protestantism with which he was brought up, and his rebellion against it • the love of a man for a woman • the relationship between an elderly man and a young man (e.g. a father and his son, a teacher and a student) • guilt His writings are full of detailed descriptions of nature (e.g. the weather, insects, plants) and show his passionate love for classical music (especially the music of the composers Bach, Mozart and Schubert). 't Hart has also written non-fiction, including Ratten (1973), published in an English translation as Rats by Arnold Pomerans (London/New York: Allison and Busby, 1982). 't Hart is supporter of the Party for Animals, and, in 2004, agreed with the party to underline that by becoming a candidate in the European elections. However, for this he needed an official identity document, and he has no driving licence, and had neither a passport nor another identity document (he had not been abroad for 10 years), and, for reasons of principle, did not want to get one for this purpose. He is also a prominent radio and television personality, and a regular contributor to daily newspapers. He currently lives in Warmond, close to Leiden, with his wife. His chief pastimes are music – he plays the piano and the organ – and reading. He says he reads six books a week, in Dutch, English, German, and French. He knows very little about films and rarely watches one. He does not want to be involved in films based on his books. He was, however, "rat consultant" to Werner Herzog for the film Nosferatu the Vampyre. This turned out to be a disagreeable experience about which he wrote a story, "Ongewenste zeereis", that appeared in 2004 in Granta under the title "Rats".

Maarten 't Hart studied at Leiden University. The recorded working language is Dutch. Residence is recorded at South Holland. Works named in the authority record are Flight of Curlews, De jacobsladder and Het Woeden der Gehele Wereld. Distinctions recorded are Multatuli Award, Jan Greshoff Prize, Best Crime Novel in Swedish Translation and Gouden Strop.

• Name — Maarten 't Hart • Pen Name — Martin Hart • Birth Name — Maarten 't Hart • Born — 25 November 1944 • Birthplace — Maassluis, Netherlands • Occupation — Writer, biologist • Language — Dutch • Education — Leiden University • Website — http: www.maartenthart.nl/

He also worked under the name Martin Hart. The authorities additionally record the heading Martin Hart. His recorded language was Dutch.

Maarten 't Hart is recorded as writer, biologist, literary critic and ethnologist.

• (1971) Stenen voor een ransuil • (1973) Ratten; English translation: Rats (1982) • (1973) Ik had een wapenbroeder • (1974) Het vrome volk • (1978) Een vlucht regenwulpen; English translation: Flight of Curlews (1986) • (1979) De aansprekers; English translation: Bearers of Bad Tidings (1984) • (1980) De droomkoningin • (1983) De kroongetuige • (1984) De ortolaan • (1986) De jacobsladder • (1987) Het uur tussen hond en wolf • (1988) De steile helling • (1991) Onder de korenmaat • (1993) Het woeden der gehele wereld • (1996) De nakomer • (2002) De zonnewijzer; English translation: The Sundial (2004) • (2004) Lotte Weeda • (2006) Het psalmenoproer • (2019) De nachtstemmer