Jonathan Safran Foer

Jonathan Safran Foer was born in 1977 and studied philosophy at Princeton. He is the editor of the anthology A Convergence of Birds: Original Fiction and Poetry Inspired by the Work of Joseph Cornell.

In April 2002, Alles is verlicht (Everything Is Illuminated), his debut novel, was published and has since been translated worldwide. In his new book Extreem luid & ongelooflijk dichtbij (Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close), the protagonist Oskar Schell is an inventor, jewellery designer, amateur entomologist, Francophile, percussionist, avid writer of fan mail, pacifist, explorer of Central Park, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweller, actor, inconsistent vegan, and collector of rare coins, butterflies that died a natural death, Beatles memorabilia, miniature cacti and semi-precious stones. He is nine years old.

Oskar lost his father in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. In his father’s wardrobe he finds a vase, and when he accidentally drops it he discovers a strange-looking key. From that moment on, the young Oskar begins a search that takes him through New York City, in an attempt to make sense of the senseless death of his father.