Maarten 't Hart

Who is Maarten 't Hart?

Maarten 't Hart is a Dutch biologist who studied zoology and ethology at the University of Leiden and taught that subject before becoming a full-time writer in the 1980s, having made his debut as a novelist in 1971 under the name Martin Hart with Stenen voor een ransuil.

He is the author of many novels, including Het Woeden der Gehele Wereld and De kroongetuige. His books have been translated into a number of European languages, and he is especially popular in Germany. Three of his novels, Een vlucht regenwulpen, De aansprekers, and De zonnewijzer have appeared in English, as have a few of his short stories.

The themes of his novels, which often have an autobiographical component, include:

⁕the hometown of his youth, Maassluis

⁕the strict form of the Protestantism with which he was brought up, and his rebellion against it

⁕the love of a man for a woman

⁕the relationship between an elderly man and a young man

⁕guilt.

His writings are full of detailed descriptions of nature and show his passionate love for classical music.