I wonder, after such an extended period of silence, if there might still be anyone out there who is wondering just that. Let me reassure you: it is coming along fine. Yes, I know I have not been keeping you … Continue reading How is the quest for Jan van Boeckel coming along?
After having seen Dachau and Flossenbürg concentration camps, visiting family, and writing to countless archives in 2015, 2016 was a rollercoaster ride. Here are some of the things I experienced and saw: Continue reading The quest for Jan van Boeckel continues in 2017
Second draft. I’m working on a seemingly endless stream of research, writing, re-writing and fine-tuning. Still wonderful people helping me to get this story told. No time for blogging yet… Continue reading 84279 words
Interested in the book? Continue reading Jan van Boeckel – a factual novel
It has been a whirlwind year with intense meetings, dusty archives, wild nature, heartache and joy. Continue reading A year of questing
…un jeune homme qui s’opposant à l’idéologie Nazi s’est battu contre les philosophies haineuses qui à l’époque apparaissaient partout en Europe. Arrêté en Belgique après beaucoup de pérégrinations, il fut déporté en Allemagne comme prisonnier “Nacht und Nebel” Continue reading Des Pays-Bas à la Bavière – en cherchant Jan van Boeckel (in French for a change)
It makes me wonder how much information about the fate of Nazi victims and occurrences during this era is as yet unavailable as the information is locked within a language. Continue reading Unlocking language -Second World War Research
As I was watching a performance of the opera Don Carlos by Verdi this week I realised that Jan’s life has all the ingredients of a grand literary tragedy. Based on a story written in 1787 by Friedrich Schiller, Verdi’s Don Carlos relates an imposing mix of power abuse, politics, occupation, heroism, idealism, oppression and cruelty. And there is music. The deeper I delve into Jan’s story, the more I touch upon these very themes. Continue reading Singing in a monastery
In the past couple of days so much information is coming in about my uncle Jan van Boeckel that I can just about keep up with reading and making sense of it, but am not yet able to write it all down. Continue reading More than expected…
mogromo 