Tonke Dragt
Tonke Dragt, born in Batavia in 1930, writes adventure books that explore the boundaries of space and time. As a child, Dragt found herself in a Japanese concentration camp. Inspired by Jules Verne, Dragt wrote her first ‘book’ while in captivity.
In 1948, back in the Netherlands, Dragt became an art teacher. Several of her books are self-illustrated. She debuted in 1961 with the fairytale-style Verhalen van de tweelingbroers (Tales of the Twin Brothers). Dragt’s oeuvre could be described as literature with a philosophical slant for readers of all ages. Her collection of work is varied and, in addition to numerous fantasy and fairytale stories, also contains exciting adventures such as De Zevensprong (adapted into a successful TV series), mysterious novels about the future (Torenhoog en mijlen breed) and daring literary experiments such as Aan de andere kant van de deur.
In 1976 she was awarded the Dutch State Prize for Children’s and Youth Literature for her collected works. She is a unique voice in the world of Dutch literature.
More Tonke Dragt
The Letter for the King
It is nighttime, long ago. Five young men are keeping vigil by a ‘pale flame’ in a chapel. They are allowed to neither speak, nor react to any noise from outside. They must set their minds to the task ahead of them. Tomorrow they are to be knighted. But then… A knock at the door. A voice from out of the darkness: ‘Open up in Gods name!’
The Forests of Venus
Science fiction from 1969 – does it still stand up? Anyone reading 'The Forests of Venus' would have to conclude that it does. Tonke Dragt foresaw many developments, and her futuristic account of life on Venus remains a convincing and captivating read.