Jan De Hartog Criticism
Jan De Hartog, a Dutch novelist and dramatist, initially gained attention with his sea stories, leveraging his intimate knowledge of maritime life. However, he is most acclaimed for his historical romance, The Peaceable Kingdom, which explores Quaker ideals through a rich gallery of characters and compassionate storytelling. Critics such as Martin Tucker and George McCandlish have noted its vivid portrayal of complex individuals and its narrative's emotional depth, despite raising questions about its theological simplicity and historical accuracy. De Hartog’s work frequently blends thrilling adventure with explorations of moral and ethical questions, as seen in "The Distant Shore" and "The Children". His novels often evoke a sense of moral conviction, inspiring readers to consider the broader implications of human behavior and social justice.
Contents
-
The Screen: 'The Fourposter'
(summary)
In the following essay, Walter Kerr critiques Jan De Hartog's "The Fourposter" for its lack of distinctive insight and literary dryness, arguing that while the play deals with familiar themes of marriage and family, it fails to elevate beyond predictable and conventional storytelling.
-
A Novel of the Sea: On and Under It
(summary)
In the following essay, James Hilton critiques Jan De Hartog's "The Distant Shore," acknowledging its lively narrative and thrilling adventures, yet highlighting its loosely constructed dual-story structure and lack of depth, despite its vivid imagination and captivating descriptions of seafloor topography.
-
Jungle Salvation
(summary)
In the following essay, Edmund Fuller praises "The Spiral Road" by Jan De Hartog as a luminous and complex novel that transcends its classification as either a doctor or religious novel, capturing the full spectrum of human behavior and presenting a major narrative with its exotic and expansive storytelling.
-
Fantasy and Fable
(summary)
The essay critiques Jan De Hartog's novel The Spiral Road as a sprawling fantasy that lacks depth and realism, with innumerable eccentric characters and a narrative that indulges in imaginative excess rather than providing a convincingly realistic portrayal of a tropical doctor's life.
-
De Hartog's Romance of Modern Chivalry
(summary)
In the following essay, Virgilia Peterson argues that Jan de Hartog's "The Inspector" serves more as a crusade against forgetting the Holocaust than as a narrative, emphasizing its moral indignation and the realistic portrayal of Inspector Jongman, despite the dehumanization of its central Jewish character.
-
Not in the Line of Duty
(summary)
In the following essay, Anthony Boucher contends that Jan De Hartog's "The Inspector" is a poignant novel of the human condition, characterized by its subdued tone and vivid characters, set against the backdrop of a complex world, but transcending the genre expectations of suspense and intrigue.
-
The Secret Sharer
(summary)
In the following essay, Martin Tucker argues that Jan De Hartog's novel "The Captain" masterfully combines an intimate knowledge of the sea with literary allusions to Conrad, resulting in a compelling narrative of a ship's captain and his crew that triumphs as popular fiction.
-
New Novels in Brief: 'The Captain'
(summary)
In the following essay, Pamela Marsh critiques "The Captain" by Jan De Hartog, arguing that while the novel initially provides an exciting maritime adventure, it falters when attempting to delve into psychological drama, ultimately lacking the depth needed to effectively convey its anti-war message.
-
'The Children'
(summary)
In the following essay, Richard Pollak critiques Jan De Hartog's "The Children" for its mix of valuable adoption advice with excessive sentimentality and irrelevant anecdotes, but ultimately appreciates its demonstration of how moral conviction can inspire constructive change.
-
The Peaceable Kingdom
(summary)
In the following essay, Martin Tucker analyzes "The Peaceable Kingdom," emphasizing Jan De Hartog's focus on the sacrifices of wealth and intelligence made by characters committed to the Quaker ideal, while highlighting the novel's portrayal of complex women and the sensational yet disarming narrative that, despite lacking intellectual depth, maintains dramatic interest.
-
Books: 'The Peaceable Kingdom'
(summary)
In the following essay, George McCandlish critiques Jan De Hartog's "The Peaceable Kingdom" as a historical romance with a Quaker ethos, noting its rich character gallery and compassionate storytelling despite questioning the simplicity of its theology and historical accuracy.
-
Books: 'The Lamb's War'
(summary)
In the following essay, Ludo Abicht examines Jan de Hartog's novel The Lamb's War, highlighting its realistic style, ethical and religious themes, and the complexity of its characters, while comparing de Hartog's narrative approach to the works of Graham Greene and the artistic visions of Hieronymus Bosch and James Ensor.