{"title":"Stefan Hertmans","description":"\u003cp\u003eDiscover the captivating world of \u003cem\u003eStefan Hertmans\u003c\/em\u003e, a distinguished Belgian author renowned for his compelling storytelling and profound exploration of historical themes. Hertmans' works beautifully blend fiction and reality, inviting readers on intriguing journeys through time and emotion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStart your adventure with \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Ascent\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, a thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of identity and memory. Explore the intricate layers of personal and historical narratives in \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Convert\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e, where Hertmans masterfully weaves a tale of love and faith against the backdrop of religious upheaval.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor a poignant portrayal of war's impact, immerse yourself in \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eWar and Turpentine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e. This critically acclaimed novel draws inspiration from Hertmans' own family history, offering a vivid depiction of life during the First World War and the enduring power of art and resilience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStefan Hertmans' collection of novels falls under the category of General Fiction, yet transcends traditional storytelling boundaries. His works are a testament to the rich tapestry of human experience, making them an invaluable addition to any literary enthusiast's collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"war-and-turpentine-by-stefan-hertmans-9781925240207","title":"War and Turpentine","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShortly before his death in 1981, Stefan Hertmans' grandfather gave him a couple of filled exercise books. Stories he'd heard as a child had led Hertmans to suspect that their contents might be disturbing, and for years he didn't dare to open them. When he finally did, he discovered unexpected secrets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis grandfather's life was marked by years of childhood poverty in late-nineteenth-century Belgium, by horrific experiences on the frontlines during the First World War, and by the loss of the young love of his life. He sublimated his grief in the silence of painting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on these diary entries, his childhood memories, and the stories told within Urbain's paintings, Hertmans has produced a poetic novelisation of his grandfather's story, brought to life with great imaginative power and vivid detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eWar and Turpentine\u003c\/i\u003e is an enthralling search for a life that coincided with the tragedy of a century — and a posthumous, almost mythical attempt to give that life a voice at last.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46496583581932,"sku":"9781925240207","price":34.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781925240207.jpg?v=1748501824"},{"product_id":"the-ascent-by-stefan-hertmans-9781922458858","title":"The Ascent","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe dazzling new novel by the author of the modern classic \u003ci\u003eWar and Turpentine\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the summer of 1979, Stefan Hertmans fell in love with a dilapidated house in Ghent. He rescued it from decay, and it became his peaceful sanctuary. Decades on, he learns that a bust of Hitler once sat on the mantelpiece, and a war criminal and his family relaxed in its rooms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis shocking discovery sends Hertmans to the archives, where he uncovers the secrets of the house and the atrocities committed by its former owner Willem Verhulst. Drawing on the historical record and interviews with Verhulst’s family, Hertmans reimagines the life of a weak, narcissistic man who climbed the ranks of the SS. Hertmans also uncovers the marital drama that took place in the house: Verhulst’s commitment to the SS was at odds with the outlook of his wife, a deeply religious pacifist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Ascent\u003c\/i\u003e is an immersive tale of war, family and individual fate, in which Hertmans demonstrates his mastery at spinning a personal story into an epic narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46532898521324,"sku":"9781922458858","price":34.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781922458858.jpg?v=1749344577"},{"product_id":"the-convert-by-stefan-hertmans-9781925773576","title":"The Convert","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSet at the time of the Crusades and based on historical events, \u003ci\u003eThe Convert\u003c\/i\u003e is the story of a strong-willed young woman who sacrifices everything in the name of love.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Stefan Hertmans learns that Monieux, the small Provençal village in which he lives, was the scene of a pogrom a thousand years ago and that a treasure may be hidden there, he goes in search of clues. The first is a letter, written in Hebrew nearly a thousand years ago, originally discovered among a startling collection of Jewish documents in the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo in the late nineteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis letter sets Hertmans off on the trail of a young woman who fled her powerful Christian family to marry the love of her life, the son of the chief rabbi of France, for whom she renounced her own faith. Originally known as Vigdis, the young woman changed her name to Hamoutal upon converting to Judaism. Her father offered a large sum to anyone who could bring her back, but the lovers managed to escape to Monieux. They were not safe for long, though: Monieux bore witness to a bloody pogrom, after which Hamoutal found herself alone and once again having to flee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHertmans retraces Hamoutal's footsteps—first through the French cities of Rouen, Narbonne, and Marseille, as she makes her way south, fleeing her family, and then on to Sicily and ultimately to Cairo, where she sought asylum. It is a dizzying, often terrifying journey, full of hardships, that unfolds against the backdrop of the death and destruction of the Crusades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Convert\u003c\/i\u003e is both an epic love story and a harrowing portrait of the havoc wrought by holy war. It is a tale of flight, and fear, a story that seeks to answer a pivotal question: What does it mean to change your identity?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46532946559212,"sku":"9781925773576","price":34.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/18061093482873.jpg?v=1749354021"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/stefan-hertmans.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}