Justus van Maurik

Justus van Maurik Jr. was a Dutch author and cigar maker, born in Amsterdam on August 16, 1846, and died there on November 18, 1904. He became especially known for farces, humorous plays, and fiction drawn from ordinary city life, with a strong connection to Amsterdam and its local character.

His first novel, Mie de porster, appeared in 1878, and many more stories and books followed. Sources also note that he helped create De Amsterdammer in 1877, and that a number of his works were illustrated by the artist Johan Braakensiek.

What makes van Maurik memorable is the tone of his writing: funny, observant, and close to everyday people. Even in brief summaries of his work, he stands out as a writer who could be entertaining without losing a sense of real life.