Winner of the 2011 Gouden Lijst (NL, best YA)
Winner of the 2011 Thea Beckmann Prize (NL, best historical children’s book)
Nominated for the 2011 Children’s Booksellers Prize (NL)
During a holiday in England, Rindert Kromhout visited Charleston, the home and meeting place of the
writers, artists and academics of the famous Bloomsbury Group. He was captivated. In Soldiers Don’t Cry, he reconstructs the history of Quentin and Julian, sons of art critic Clive Bell and artist Vanessa Bell, who, together with her sister, the writer Virginia Woolf, formed the heart of this group of artists.
In vivid, captivating prose, Kromhout takes the reader on a journey to the England of the 1920s and 30s and offers a peek into this celebrated group of artists. Kromhout can take credit for making Soldiers Don’t Cry more than just a fascinating historical account. He has turned these historical figures into real, true-to-life characters, ensuring that this story touches not only our minds, but also our hearts.
Soldiers Don’t Cry is a story based on facts and historical people and the first part in the Bloomsbury-trilogy. It can also be read as a standalone novel.
‘Soldiers don’t cry offers a great view at the lives of an arty English family at the start of the 20th century, as well as at the world of the artists involved with the Bloomsbury Group’ – De Telegraaf
‘In Soldiers don’t cry, Rindert Kromhout banishes all his demons. He pens Charleston’s magic at will. You’ll want to read it again immediately. – Leesfeest
‘Thanks to relevant but difficult questions, this book leaves you all the wiser.’ – 7 Days
‘Genuine narration. Intriguing.’ – Trouw
‘Gripping chronicle, but also a moving young people’s novel.’ – Vrij Nederland
