Some opportunities are too good to turn down. o when the young and ambitious Pierre is asked to join the editorial board of Arabesk, a literary magazine with a distinguished history, he doesn’t hesitate. Eagerly, he steps into his new role, marking the start of a fresh chapter in his life.
Pierre grew up in a household steeped in literature, with a father who once witnessed the glory days of print as an editor-in-chief. But as Pierre settles into his role at Arabesk, the magazine’s subscriber base continues to dwindle. At times, it seems only his father still appreciates the magazine’s charm, but he increasingly retreats into his study, surrounded by piles of paper, obscure DVDs, and a radio that’s always on.
How long should traditions be maintained? And when is it time to move on? The Archive by Thomas Heerma van Voss is a witty and touching novel about a world that is gradually disappearing.
Thomas Heerma van Voss (1990) is the author of several novels and short story collections, including the widely praised Conditions and Passengers/Those Left Behind. He also writes for De Groene Amsterdammer and was an editor at the literary magazine De Revisor for seven years.