
In a cramped, dimly lit cottage the everyday struggles of a fishing family unfold, their voices colored by a lively regional dialect that brings the room to life. Cobus, Clémentine, and the lanky Daantje volley jokes, curses, and memories of lost voyages, their banter tinged with both humor and a lingering dread of the sea. The stage is packed with humble details—a wooden chest, a dove in a cage, a sketchbook on a knee—painting a vivid portrait of poverty and perseverance.
The first act sets the tone for a story that balances the harsh realities of life on the coast with the stubborn hope that keeps its characters afloat. As the characters speak of shipwrecks, missing sons, and the relentless grind of earning a living, listeners sense an undercurrent of tension that promises larger challenges ahead. This opening invites you into a world where the sea is both a livelihood and a looming threat, making every whispered word feel like a step toward an uncertain horizon.
Language
nl
Duration
~2 hours (133K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Jeroen Hellingman and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net/ for Project Gutenberg (prepared from scans provided by the Koninklijke Bibliotheek, The Hague)
Release date
2021-04-26
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1864–1924
Best known for the powerful play The Good Hope (Op hoop van zegen), this Dutch dramatist wrote with deep sympathy for working people and a sharp eye for social injustice. His work helped make modern social drama a force in Dutch literature.
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by Herman Heijermans

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