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Rinus Spruit – The ThatcherThe old thatcher tells his story, his son writes it down. And continues to write untilafter his father’s death.In this touching memoir about his father, Rinus Spruit captures the hard life of a thatcher’sfamily in the early years of the last century, when people worked from dawn to dusk, living infear of ending up old and poor. Mixed with this evocative description of a lost way of life isthe story of a father and his son, close yet divided by all the changes of the last fifty years.Spruit's restrained style of writing perfectly matches the seriousness of the subject but asubtle humour emerges that helps to make the book totally engaging.The first series of a successful stage show based upon this novel was sold out. A second serieswill be played in the Netherlands in the fall of 2011.Rights sold to:Germany, DTVENGLISH SAMPLETRANSLATION AVAILABLE‘This family history has the style of a novel. Dramatic tension, characters of flesh and blood.What a modest, touching story on mortality.’ – de Volkskrant‘What’s so good about it? In many novels, rural life is romanticized quite a bit, almostglorified. Rinus Spruit does not need that gimmick. He is sensitive without beingsentimental. It is inexpressive prose, in the good sense. Kudos to this author.’ – Het Parool‘What a lovely book! A magnificent monument in words for a father. And what great detailsand wonderful expressions.’ – Maarten ’t HartAuthor: Rinus SpruitTitle: The Thatcher (non-fiction)Original title: De rietdekkerPublished: 2009Size: 144 pages / 20.000 words