Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer
Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer is a Dutch author, poet, and playwright known for his diverse body of work, including novels, poetry, and essays. He has received several literary awards and is recognized for his contributions to contemporary Dutch literature.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. La Superba
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Genoa, this novel weaves a rich tapestry of stories, exploring themes of identity, migration, and the pursuit of dreams. The narrative follows a Dutch writer who becomes entangled in the lives of the city's diverse inhabitants, from immigrants seeking a better life to locals clinging to their traditions. Through a blend of humor, poignancy, and vivid imagery, the story delves into the complexities of human existence, capturing the essence of a city that is both enchanting and unforgiving.
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2. Grand Hotel Europa
A sardonic, elegiac travelogue centered on a disenchanted poet who takes refuge in an ornate hotel in Genoa and uses its hallways, guests and staff as a microcosm to meditate on contemporary Europe—its art and architecture, cultural decay, migration, love affairs and the slow passage of time—mixing sharp satire, lyrical digressions and personal confession as he wanders the city and his memories.
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3. Monterosso Mon Amour
A reflective, partly autobiographical narrative in which a writer takes up residence in a small Ligurian fishing village, immersing himself in its cliffs, sea, and narrow streets while weaving together vivid portraits of local life, daily rituals, and eccentric inhabitants; the book alternates between humorous anecdote and philosophical meditation on love, longing, the passage of time, and the responsibilities of the artist, blending travel writing, literary criticism, and lyricism into a passionate ode to place and the consolations of art.
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5. De Nederlandse Poëzie Van De Twintigste En De Eenentwintigste Eeuw In 1000 En Enige Gedichten
In 1000 en enige gedichten
A sweeping, single-volume anthology that collects over a thousand poems to trace the development of Dutch-language poetry across the twentieth and twenty‑first centuries, bringing together canonical and lesser-known voices, major movements and stylistic experiments. The selection maps shifts in theme, form and language—from early modernist breakthroughs and postwar responses to contemporary innovations—while offering contextual notes and brief introductions that situate individual poets and poems within broader cultural and historical currents, making the century-spanning landscape of Dutch poetry accessible to general readers and scholars alike.