According to the opening sentence of Greatest Hits, P.F. Thomése also ventured into a short (that is, very short) lived musical career. His looks being compared to Art Garfunkels’ once to many, he decided to start singing, so we can read. ‘To prove I’m someone else, I had to, I just had to sing.’ Not totally unexpected, it’s writing that fits him better.

 

After working for some local newspapers, doing a final attempt to finish his studies and publishing some short stories, his first novel Zuidland was published in 1990. It won the Dutch AKO Literatuurprijs. International acclaim came 13 years later, with Schaduwkind (Shadow Child). This novel, translated in about 20 different languages, is about the difficulty, if not impossibility to put reality into suitable words. The immediate cause for this book was the death of his daughter. He continued writing, and has been publishing books at a steady pace ever since. 

 

His oeuvre at first sight seems to be a mix between more humorous and reserved or sober works. But that’s a simplification that ignores some clear similarities, in themes and style. Humor is hardly ever far away (it’s only as if Thomése sometimes deliberately loosens or tightens his grip on the brake, whatever the occasion requires), and his original, intelligent use of language. Language might even form his answer to the quest for a bigger meaning a lot of his characters are out on; if there’s anything that can give us some directions and steadiness, it’s words.  

 

And what about music? Well, it might not be the one, major drive behind his work, but it obviously has its influence. Check out his website and find lists of the music he was listening to while writing  his books, a player with music supporting J. Kessels the Novel and video's of Thomése performing on Lowlands Festival!

 

 

text by Pieter Wybenga / photo by Ronald Hoeben