Which trio of post-World War II Dutch authors is traditionally celebrated as 'De Grote Drie' (The Big Three) of modern Dutch literature?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Willem Frederik Hermans, Gerard Reve, and Harry Mulisch
- Step 1: The canon of post-war Dutch prose is universally anchored by 'De Grote Drie'. Step 2. These three towering figures are Willem Frederik Hermans (De donkere kamer van Damokles), Gerard Reve (De avonden), and Harry Mulisch (De ontdekking van de hemel). Answer: Willem Frederik Hermans, Gerard Reve, and Harry Mulisch. Why not the others: Vestdijk and Bordewijk were interwar modernists; Haasse and Minco are major female authors but not part of the traditional trio.
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