Maria Dermout

About the Author

Maria Dermout, a Dutch writer born in 1888 on the island of Java, drew deeply from her Indo-Dutch heritage and the lush, mystical landscapes of the East Indies to craft narratives that blend the ordinary with the ethereal. Exiled from her birthplace during World War II, she returned to the Netherlands, where she began her literary career late in life, publishing her debut novel at the age of sixty. Her work often explores themes of loss, memory, and the interplay between the natural world and human destiny, infused with a poetic sensibility that captures the subtle rhythms of island life. Dermout's writing, marked by its quiet intensity and evocative imagery, continues to enchant readers with its timeless resonance, as seen in her acclaimed novel The Ten Thousand Things, a haunting tale of love, tragedy, and the inexorable passage of time amid the spice islands.