Reddit mentions of Amsterdam Stories (New York Review Books Classics)

The novellas of Nescio (Jan Hendrik Frederik Grönloh), recently published in translation as "amsterdam stories" by New York Review Books Classics.

Of those especially 'little titans', (roughly) about a group of young friends growing up and failing to live up to the ideals of their youth.

Stilistically these little novellas are very simple, but they are very melancholic and capture the hopefulness of youth and the defeat and melancholy of growing older. I think the themes are relevant to everyone and something in it's style just endures and hits you with the same intensity, as if it was written now instead of a hundred years ago.

Here's a small excerpt, about Bavink, the painter of the group (my own shoddy translation):

> '(…) Go stand with your back to the water and listen. Can you stay out of it?'

> 'out of what?'

> 'Out of the sea?' I nodded, I could easily do that.

> 'I barely can,' said Bavink. 'That melancholy sound behind me is so strange. As if it wants something from me. God's also in that. God cries out. It's no fun, he's everywhere. And everywhere he is he's crying out to Bavink. Your own name becomes silly if it's repeated that often. And then Bavink has to paint. Then God wants a painted morsel of linen. Then Bavink cries out 'God'. And they keep calling for each other. To God it's just a game, he's endless and everywhere. He just keeps on crying out. But Bavink only has one stupid head and one stupid right hand and can only work on one stupid little painting at a time. And if he thinks that he has God then he has linen and paint. Then God's everywhere except where Bavink wants him. And then this guy comes along and writes that Bavink is blessed. And Hoyer learns it by heart and starts driveling on about it to Bekker. Talk about blessed. You know what I want? That I could make railway timetables. God would leave that guy alone, he isn't worth the trouble.'

> (…)

> The cool wind blew around us. The sea rushed deploringly, deploring without knowing why. Sadly the sea washes ashore. My thoughts are a sea, sadly they roll onto their boundaries.

> A new time would commence, we could still make great things happen. I tried my best to believe it, I really tried.

De Uitvreter / Titaantjes / Dichtertje / Mene Tekel by the Dutch author Nescio. It's been published in English as Amsterdam Stories.

They're short stories. De Uitvreter (The Freeloader) and Titaantjes (Little Titans) in particular are true classics about youth, appreciating nature, and naive idealism leading either to cynical conformism or going mad. They were written like 100 years ago but are a true joy to read. Especially recommended for those with an interest in existentialist philosophy/literature.