Ottessa Moshfegh

Over the last couple of years, American author Ottessa Moshfegh’s star has been rising steadily in American literary circles. The former English teacher seems to capture the spirit of the times like no other, and usually incorporates a given subject in her work it just before it becomes a hype. Her very first published story dealt with women’s choice never to wear make-up again. A bold statement at the time, completely normal now.

In her novel My Year of Rest and Relaxation, she describes a woman who has resolved to do nothing for a year but sleep, hoping to be reborn in the process. A present-day female Oblomov. Her collection Homesick for Another World (Heimwee naar een andere wereld, Hollands Diep) also touches upon many a sore point. Its most controversial story is called Rupert - in which a female writer describes an unpleasant encounter with an established author when she was only seventeen.

Otessa Moshfegh (1981, Boston) is an American author of short stories and novels. She is of Croatian, Iranian and Jewish descent, and has already made the International Booker Prize shortlist.

Rosan Hollak will interview Ottessa Moshfegh in English. After the interview, Moshfegh will be available to sign books, our favourite bookseller De Vries Van Stockum Den Haag is also present with the Dutch and English version of the book.