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Thea Beckman

Thea Beckman (1923-2004) was one of the most important twentieth- century Dutch writers of children’s books. She came to fame with her award-winning historical novel Kruistocht in spijkerbroek (Crusade in Jeans), a time-travel story set amidst the Children’s Crusade of 1212. Lots more books, including best-selling trilogies about the Hundred Years’ War and about the land of Thule, were to follow, along with awards and many translations. The prestigious Thea Beckman Award, an annual prize for the best historical children’s book, recognises Beckman’s outstanding position within this genre.

Kruistocht in spijkerbroek

Kruistocht in spijkerbroek

(Lemniscaat, 1973, 363 pagina's)

Kruistocht in spijkerbroek (Crusade in Jeans) came out in 1973 and represented Thea Beckman’s breakthrough as an author of books for young people. The story is about the 15-year-old Dolf Wega, who travels in a time machine and ends up in the middle of a children’s crusade in the year 1212. He looks in bewilderment at the eight thousand bare-footed children who are singing and praying their way to Jerusalem. The crusade is led by two monks and by the shepherd boy Nicolaas, who has received from God the task of liberating the Holy Land from the Saracens.

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Kinderen van Moeder Aarde

Kinderen van Moeder Aarde

(Lemniscaat, 1985, 465 pagina's)

The Grand Old Lady of historical children’s literature – that’s Thea Beckman’s nickname. However, Beckman was not only interested in the past. Driven by social awareness and a desire to let her imagination run free, she rid Greenland of its ice and created a new state. The result was this captivating work of futuristic speculative fiction.

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