Auke Hulst

Author and musician Auke Hulst (b. 1975) made his literary breakthrough in 2012 with his third, strongly autobiographical novel, Kinderen van het ruige land (Children of the Savage Land). He won the Harland Award two years in a row, for Slaap zacht, Johnny Idaho (Sleep Tight, Johnny Idaho, 2015) and En ik herinner me Titus Broederland (Brotherland, 2016), which was also on the longlist for the ECI Literature Prize and the Libris Literature Prize. Motel Songs (2017) was awarded the Bob den Uyl Prize. The Mitsukoshi Consolation Baby Company is longlisted for the Libris Literature Prize.

Searchlight on the Lawn

(Ambo Anthos, 2018, 192 pages)

After ten books in twelve years, it’s safe to say that Auke Hulst is a prolific writer. His work has always had a cinematic quality: both Sleep Tight, Johnny Idaho (2015) and Brotherland (2017) read like dystopian road novels. In his new novel, he steps into the mind of one of the most unpopular presidents in American history. The result is remarkable.

The Mitsukoshi Consolation Baby Company

(Ambo Anthos, 2021, 607 pages)

Dutch critics have declared that The Mitsukoshi Consolation Baby Company is great storyteller Auke Hulst’s magnum opus. A compelling plot, deeply affecting scenes and philosophical perceptiveness coalesce naturally into a masterly address of the big questions of our time. Hulst’s limitless imagination forces the reader to face up to what is is to be human, to rise above our fate and discover the meaning of love.