Charles Lewinsky

(1946) alternates between living in Zurich and a village in France. He worked as a dramaturge and director, wrote TV scripts and plays, and continues to write novels and short stories. His work has been featured multiple times on national and international long and shortlists, earning him awards from France to China. Halfbaard was nominated for both the German and Swiss Buchpreis. His novel Het Hot van de familie Meijer, an uncompromising bestseller, marked his major breakthrough in the Netherlands and Flanders. Additionally, Lewinsky serves as the chairman of the Jonathan Swift Internationaler Preis für Satire und Humor, established in 2015 by the Werner Dessauer Foundation. Recipients of this award include Eva Menasse, T.C. Boyle, Yasmina Reza, Joachim Meyerhoff, and David Sedaris.
Archive available for: Charles Lewinsky
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Charles Lewinsky on his latest novel Half Beard and the art of storytelling.
With: Charles Lewinsky, Elly Schippers, Maria Vlaar, Myron Hamming
Charles Lewinsky, known for his novel The Fate of the Meijer Family, is a storyteller pur sang. His latest novel Halfbeard (Halbbart, translated by Elly Schippers)is an ode to the art of storytelling.
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, Charles Lewinsky was unable to participate in this program. Nevertheless, it was a wonderfully beautiful and inspiring evening, thanks in part to Maria Vlaar, Elly Schippers, Myron Hamming, and Meridiaan Uitgevers!
In this episode of the Writers Series, Maria Vlaar discussed with Elly Schippers, the translator of the novel Halfbeard, how the translation of this novel came about and how manipulative fiction can be. Because a good story is often believed more than the truth. In these times of fake news, this topic is super relevant.
Maria Vlaar is a writer, publicist and interviewer. She is a reviewer for Belgian daily newspaper De Standaard, writes the biography of author Joost Zwagerman and was awarded the J.M.A. Biesheuvel Prize for her debut, the short stories collection Diepe aarde (Deep Earth).Myron Hamming, contemporary storyteller and poet, reads from his work. In 2023, he made his debut with Je droomt het niet zomaar. He has spoken and written on behalf of organizations such as NPO, Unicef, the Dutch government, AFAS Edisons, Humberto Tan, and the Royal House.
'How Halfbeard came to us nobody can say, overnight he was just there. Some think they know for sure that they saw him for the first time on Palm Sunday, others insist it was on Good Friday. This has even once led to a brawl.'
From: Halfbeard, Charles Lewinsky
'Lewinsky shows us with sheer exuberant creativity how fatally and incorrigibly man repeatedly gives free rein to the inner devil.' Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
This Writers Series program is in English.
After the event, there will be a book sale by De Vries Van Stockum, along with an opportunity for book signing.
Programme curated by Ilonka Reintjens (Writers Unlimited)This program is made possible in part by Gemeente Den Haag and Nederlands Letterenfonds
Writers Series: Charles Lewinsky on his latest novel Halfbeard and the art of storytelling.
Woensdag 20th March 2024, 20:30-22:00h
Centrale Bibliotheek Podium B, Spui 68 2511 BT The HagueWriters Unlimited organises the Writers Unlimited International Literature Festival The Hague every year in January (next up: January 2025) and monthly Writers Series programmes throughout the year at various locations in The Hague, including the Central Public Library (Centrale Bibliotheek) The Hague. The festival, featuring more than 100 writers, poets, spoken word artists and musicians from the Netherlands and abroad, will take place over four days at venues including Theater aan het Spui, Filmhuis Den Haag, Paard, Koninklijke Schouwburg, neighbourhood libraries, Hague universities and secondary schools.
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Charles Lewinsky and Ad van Liempt
With: Ad van Liempt, Charles Lewinsky
An evening on resistance and treason in World War II. In his latest novel Charles Lewinsky writers about the dilemma of the jewish actor and director Kurt Gerron. In Theresienstadt the SS asks him to make a movie in which the humiliating life in the ghetto is represented as a paradise. To refuse would mean a transport to Auschwitz. To cooperate would be self-betrayal.
In his latest book 'The hunt on the resistance', the Dutch journalist Ad van Liempt describes how the Germans suppressed the Dutch underground resistance, with help of Dutch countrymen.The two authors will talke to writer Judith Uyterlinde on treason and resistance..
At the end of the evening the writers will sign their books at the Paagman Bookshop in the venue. The conversation is in English.
Sponsored by Fonds 1818, Uitgeverij Signatuur and Uitgeverij Balans.