The Darkroom of Damocles
Willem Frederik Hermans was an adolescent in Amsterdam during the Second World War, a period that made an indelible impression on him, compounded by his older sister and cousin committing suicide soon after the German invasion in 1940. Hermans often chooses the war as backdrop for his novels, since it is an environment in which malice and misunderstanding, and the pointlessness of our existence can best be brought to the surface. 'The Darkroom of Damocles' is no exception.
Original title
De donkere kamer van Damokles
Author
Willem Frederik Hermans
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There is his accurate delineation of place, the inscrutability of his characters and a fascination with language’s capacity to order reality.
Times Literary Supplement
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Not only would Dutch literature be considerably less without Hermans; so would the European literature.
Süddeutsche Zeiting
Hermans is a prominent European author who has continued the tradition of E.T.A. Hoffman, Kleist, Kafka, Céline and Sartre in a unique way.
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
Willem Frederik Hermans
Willem Frederik Hermans (1921-1995) is one of the greatest post-war Dutch authors. Before devoting his life to writing, Hermans taught Physical Geography at the University of Groningen for many years. He had already started writing and publishing in magazines at a young age. His polemic and provocative style led to a court case as early as 1952. His caustic pieces were compiled in 'Mandarijnen op zwavelzuur' (Mandarines in Sulphuric Acid, 1963), which was reprinted with additions a number of times.