Bibliography of Caribbean Literature in English From Suriname, The Netherlands Antilles, Aruba, and The Netherlands

Introduction

In 1904 H. van Kol, a member of the Dutch Lower House of the General Assembly, wrote the following in his introduction to his book To the Netherlands Antilles and Venezuela (Amsterdam: Sijthoff, 1904):

In preparation [for my voyage], I have browsed through all the books about the West Indies I could lay my hands on; and it struck me, that while just a few good books have been published in English, French literature contains little of significance with regard to this topic, and Dutch literature is downright pitiful. It is not my discretion to judge to what extent these sketches, written on a heaving ship or after exhausting journeys in a tropical and humid climate, might alleviate this lack. The lack of sources, besides my own notes, may serve as an excusable circumstance, in case [my book] does not show what could have been produced if more time had been available and if closer examination of the subjects could have taken place. To increase our knowledge concerning these countries and peoples, to gather information on the economic situations, to cast a glance to the future of these races and regions—those are the goals that I pursue rather than to provide a fascinating book of travels.

Now 93 years later, the state of affairs described above has changed somewhat! Due to Callaloo’s initiative, a large public may now become acquainted with what has been published in English. The knowledge concerning these countries and peoples can indeed be “increased” and broadened. Who knows? This special issue of Callaloo may encourage other creative minds to write and to publish about the fascinating “Dutch-speaking” Caribbean.

This bibliography has been compiled with the assistance of Pedro de Weever, a graduate student at Howard University from St. Maarten; Susan de Lange, Chief-Librarian-Documentalist of the Arubiana-Caribiana Collection; Miroushka Orman, Librarian-Documentalist of the National Library of Aruba; Lieneke Frerichs, Documentalist of the Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature; and Jo Derkx and Irene Rolfes, Documentalists of the Department of Caribbean Studies, the Royal Institute of Linguistics and Anthropology in Leiden.

I. Fiction, Drama, Poetry

Ansano, Richenel, et al., eds. Mundu yama sínta míra: Womanhood in Curaçao. Curaçao: Fundashon Publikashon, 1992.

Arion, Frank Martinus. Double Play. Trans. Paul Vincent. London: Faber and Faber, forthcoming.

——. From Double Play. Trans. Charles McGeehan. Callaloo 11 (1988): 3–18. Rpt. Broek, Swirling Columns. 33–36.

——. “Four Spirituals.” Trans. Estelle Debrot. Black Orpheus 6 (1959): 44–45.

——. “Two Spirituals.” Trans. Estelle Debrot. Melanthika: An Anthology of Pan Caribbean Writing. Eds. Nick Toczek, et al. Birmingham: L.W.M. P, 1977. 183–84.

Armand, Sophie. Moonlight Over Basi-Ruti: A Novel. Aruba: Chuchúbi, 1963.

Arya, U. Ritual Songs and Folksongs of Hindus of Surinam. Leiden: Brill, 1968.

Bacilio, Gibi F. “Base Militar: Military Base.” Ansano. 157–58.

Baly, Camille. The Village. N.p., n.d.

Bandel, Paul. “The Oven.” Trans. Peter Constantine. The Caribbean Writer 10 (1996): 169–71.

Beijer, Henk de. A Perfect Sight! Aruba: FAVI, 1983.

Berry-Haseth, Lucille. “Cheers!” Broek, Swirling Columns. 28.

Blinder, Oda. “Prophesy.” Trans. Aart G. Broek. Broek, Swirling Columns. 32.

Bohac, Janet. “Candiru.” Fenwick. 43.

Booi, Frank. “Amador Nita” and “We Polyglots.” Trans. Scott Rollins. Melanthika: An Anthology of Pan Caribbean Writing. Eds. Nick Toczek, et al. Birmingham: L.W.M. P, 1977. 185–86.

Braakman-Bonder, I. “De onnozele: The Innocent One.” Ansano. 171–72.

Brito, Nadia. “Muhe na Kaminda: Woman on the Move.” Ansano. 195–97.

Broek, Aart, ed. Swirling Columns of Imagination. Curaçao: Maduro & Curiel’s Bank, 1997.

Bute, Ruby. Floral Bouquets to the Daughters of Eve. California: Columbia Publishers, 1996.

——. Golden voices of S’Maatin. St. Martin: House of Nehesi, 1989.

Cairo, Edgar. “Mindworry.” Trans. Peter Gobets. Amsterdam: In de Knipscheer. Unpublished Translation.

——. “Poem.” Trans. James S. Holmes. Melanthika: An Anthology of Pan Caribbean Writing. Eds. Nick Toczek, et al. Birmingham: L.W.M.P, 1977. 187–88.

——. From “This Here Soul.” Trans. Peter Gobets. Callaloo 11 (1988): 74–79...