Author(s): Marga Minco

Novel | Historical | The Netherlands | Translated fiction

'The evening the men came I fled through the garden gate...'

The Netherlands, World War II

When the Nazis invade the Netherlands in May 1940 it's clear that life is changing for the girl and her family. Step by step, the Nazis close in on the Dutch Jews. But when the authorities finally come to the family home a split decision will have devastating consequences.

Marga Minco's autobiographical novel Bitter Herbs is a Dutch classic that has been translated into more than fifteen languages. This deceptively simple and profoundly moving tale is now reissued with a new translation by Jeannette K Ringold.

Review: The family's incorrigible optimism enhances the nightmarish effect of this impressive little book. Moving and memorable. * The Times Literary Supplement *
The simplicity and complete naivete of Marga Minco's account sharpen the impression it makes. * The Jewish Chronicle *

Author Biography: Marga Minco (1920) debuted with Bitter Herbs (1957), which was followed by other famous works such as The Fall (1983) and An Empty House (1967). She won the Vijverberg prize (1957), the Annie Romein Prize (1999), the Constantijn Huygen Prize (2005) and the P.C. Hooft Prize (2019) for her entire oeuvre.