New Dutch Writing: Valentijn Hoogenkamp & Michele Hutchison
Antiboy by Valentijn Hoogenkamp is a poignant exploration of identity and transformation as it chronicles Valentijn’s decision to undergo a mastectomy — a choice that becomes a catalyst for embracing a non-binary identity.
Rejecting traditional gender norms, Valentijn discards feminine attire and shaves his head, adopting the moniker “Antiboy” to signify an existence beyond conventional classifications. This transformation challenges not only societal expectations but also strains relationships with friends, family, and a cisgender boyfriend, while finding unexpected support from a transgender ex-lover.
Critics have lauded Antiboy for its lyrical prose and unflinching honesty:
‘[A] stirring account of his gender transition. […] This will offer solace to readers wrestling with similar questions, and enlightenment to those who never have.’ Publishers Weekly
‘Antiboy […] not only invites readers into the tumultuous journey he undertook that helped shape his identity but also underlines how this reconciliation was possible only by thwarting people’s expectations – the lies society tells about gender. Hoogenkamp’s sparse but poignant prose is masterfully translated by the International Booker Prize-winning translator Michele Hutchinson. It’s laudable how much that is interlinked that the author manages to unpack in this tiny volume.’ The New Indian Express
This event is supported by the Dutch Foundation for Literature/Nederlands Letterenfonds as part of their New Dutch Writing programme
