Wessel te Gussinklo studied psychology in Utrecht. 1986 saw the appearance of his first novel, The Forbidden Garden, which was awarded the Anton Wachter Prize. His second novel, The Task (1995), received the Lucy B. en C.W. van der Hoogt Prize and the F. Bordewijk Prize, and was nominated for the Libris Literature Prize and the Gouden Uil. A new edition is in preparation. Very Bright Light (2014) is nominated for the AKO Literature Prize.
(Querido, 2003, 282 pages)
Roman, zo luidt de aanduiding op het omslag van Aangeraakt door de goden – misschien om de literaire kwaliteiten van het boek te onderstrepen, hetgeen terecht is. Enigszins misleidend is de genrebepaling intussen wel. Want Aangeraakt door de goden is in de eerste plaats een essaybundel. Maar wat voor één!
(Koppernik, 2014, 239 pages)
The publication of Wessel te Gussinklo’s De opdracht (The Task), which was laden with literary prizes and nominations, dates from 1995. A virtuoso and rebellious novel, it received excellent reviews, but despite the encouragement, the author did not find it easy to go on writing. This year finally saw the appearance of his third novel, which announces itself as a classic from the very first pages.
