Hendrik Groen | Peace and Joy

Orig. Title: Rust en Vreugd Orig. Language: Dutch Orig. Publisher: Meulenhoff 280 pp. | November 2021 Territory: World excl. Dutch

MATERIAL AVAILABLE Dutch MS

RIGHTS SOLD Czech Republic | Albatros Media / XYZ

When Emma Quaadvliegh is clearing away some old papers after her husband has passed away, she stumbles upon a long-forgotten application for a small house on the allotment complex ‘Peace and Joy.’ Eleven years on the waiting list have gone by unnoticed, and she can now have any house that becomes available. When Emma views a cozy, somewhat messy little house with a messy little garden, it’s love at first sight. On a whim she decides: I could do with some distraction, I’ll take this one! She knows nothing about gardening, but that shouldn’t be a problem, because all the friendly neighbors immediately offer their help.

It soon turns out not to be all ‘peace and joy’ among Emma’s fellow gardeners. Nevertheless, she is determined to make the best of it and create her own little piece of paradise. But then again, that’s all Adam and Eve wanted as well…

UNDER OPTION Germany, Italy, Poland, Estonia, USA, Slovenia, Slovakia, Russia

ALSO AVAILABLE AT MEULENHOFF

Hendrik Groen published his first diary in 2014. The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 1/⁄4 Years Old was an enormous success: there is an actual Hendrik Groen fan club, foreign rights were sold to more than 36 countries, a television series was produced, it was adapted into a play by Bos Theater Productions, and it received the NS Public Prize 2016. His second diary, On the Bright Side, has been a bestseller since its publication. His diaries have sold over 900,000+ copies in the Netherlands and Flanders. Hendrik Groen is a pseudonym.

Orig. Title: Pogingen iets van het leven te maken 328 pp. | 2014 Orig. Title: Zolang er leven is 375 pp. | 2016

Orig. Title: Opgewekt naar de eindstreep 208 pp. | 2020

The life-affirming, hilarious, and heart-warming fictional diaries from the beloved octogenarian and internationally bestselling author. Three years in the life of an elderly man Hendrik Groen and his beloved companions of the OldBut-Not-Dead club writing an exposé from an retirement’s home in Amsterdam. Both diaries were adapted into a Dutch TV series, attracting an average of 2 million viewers per week. Stage adaptations have also been numerous and very successful!

RIGHTS SOLD # OF COPIES SOLD

Diary 1: 37 territories Diary 2: 17 territories Diary 1: 700,000+ Diary 2: 300,000+

AWARDS: NS Reader’s Prize, Hebban Best Novel Prize , Earphones Award (US)

The very last diary of Hendrik Groen, one of the world’s most beloved seniors. An unexpected pleasure for everyone who craves to know how Hendrik Groen is doing after his previous diaries. Even as a ninety-year-old, Hendrik is trying to live his best life, despite missing Eefje, Evert, and his other close friends, but he finds himself confronted with increasing memory loss.

RIGHTS SOLD Estonia, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Poland