Havank
Encyclopedia
Havank, was a Dutch
writer
, journalist
and translator.
Born in Leeuwarden as Hendrikus Frederikus (Hans) van der Kallen, he took the pen-name of Havank and published over 30 crime-novels and stories, with as principal characters French police officers Bruno Silvère and Charles C.M. Carlier, the latter better known in Dutch
as 'de Schaduw’ (the Shadow). In later books holding an honorary rank within the force Carlier was allowed to operate within Scotland Yard
enabling Havank to move the venue from France to London and southern England.
Havank's novels were widely popular not only because of his playful use of the Dutch language but also for their fairly accurate scenery descriptions.
Havank also translated into Dutch some 45 novels, mainly of fellow crime writers like Leslie Charteris
, Raymond Chandler
and E. Phillips Oppenheim
. Since the mid 1950s his books were published in pocket book
editions with covers designed by the illustrator Dick Bruna
. They certainly were best-sellers: Havank is estimated to have sold more than 6 million copies in his lifetime. His books remained in print until the early 1980s when sales began to decline. However, they still are available in print-on-demand editions. To date, only two of the books have been translated into another language; both in German
but published in Switzerland.
During World War II
Havank worked as an editor and occasionally as a war correspondent
for the London edition of the Dutch weekly Vrij Nederland
. Shortly after the war he was invited to ghost-write the memoirs of Lieutenant-Colonel Oreste Pinto
, the original spycatcher
. These memoirs were serialized in the News Chronicle
. In 1946 he married Willesden
born Cynthia Vickers who at the time of their first meeting was a Red Cross ambulance driver. Theirs was not a happy marriage but the couple never divorced. Nevertheless
Mrs Havank features as Carlier's (non-married) partner under the name of Aranea Forster.
Havank lived most of his life abroad in the south of France
, on Majorca (Spain
), and in England
. It may, therefore, be considered quite remarkable that he suffered his fatal heart attack in his Leeuwarden’s Amicitia hotel room at a less than thirty yards distance from his birthplace.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and translator.
Born in Leeuwarden as Hendrikus Frederikus (Hans) van der Kallen, he took the pen-name of Havank and published over 30 crime-novels and stories, with as principal characters French police officers Bruno Silvère and Charles C.M. Carlier, the latter better known in Dutch
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
as 'de Schaduw’ (the Shadow). In later books holding an honorary rank within the force Carlier was allowed to operate within Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard is a metonym for the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service of London, UK. It derives from the location of the original Metropolitan Police headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, which had a rear entrance on a street called Great Scotland Yard. The Scotland Yard entrance became...
enabling Havank to move the venue from France to London and southern England.
Havank's novels were widely popular not only because of his playful use of the Dutch language but also for their fairly accurate scenery descriptions.
Havank also translated into Dutch some 45 novels, mainly of fellow crime writers like Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris
Leslie Charteris , born Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin, was a half-Chinese, half English author of primarily mystery fiction, as well as a screenwriter. He was best known for his many books chronicling the adventures of Simon Templar, alias "The Saint."-Early life:Charteris was born to a Chinese father...
, Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
and E. Phillips Oppenheim
E. Phillips Oppenheim
Edward Phillips Oppenheim , was an English novelist, in his lifetime a major and successful writer of genre fiction including thrillers.-Life:...
. Since the mid 1950s his books were published in pocket book
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
editions with covers designed by the illustrator Dick Bruna
Dick Bruna
Dick Bruna is a Dutch author, artist, illustrator and graphic designer.Bruna is best known for his children's books which he authored and illustrated, now numbering over 200. His best known creation is Miffy , a small rabbit drawn with heavy graphic lines, simple shapes and primary colors...
. They certainly were best-sellers: Havank is estimated to have sold more than 6 million copies in his lifetime. His books remained in print until the early 1980s when sales began to decline. However, they still are available in print-on-demand editions. To date, only two of the books have been translated into another language; both in German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
but published in Switzerland.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Havank worked as an editor and occasionally as a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
for the London edition of the Dutch weekly Vrij Nederland
Vrij Nederland
Vrij Nederland is a Dutch magazine which was established during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II as an underground newspaper but has since grown into a magazine. The weekly magazine is generally considered to be intellectually left-wing...
. Shortly after the war he was invited to ghost-write the memoirs of Lieutenant-Colonel Oreste Pinto
Oreste Pinto
Oreste Pinto was a Dutch counterintelligence officer . His activities during the Second World War, in which he worked with MI5 interrogating refugees to England, resulted in the capture of eight spies.In 1952, he published two books, Spy-catcher and Friend or Foe?; these led to the 1959-1961 BBC...
, the original spycatcher
Spycatcher
Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer , is a book written by Peter Wright, former MI5 officer and Assistant Director, and co-author Paul Greengrass. It was published first in Australia...
. These memoirs were serialized in the News Chronicle
News Chronicle
The News Chronicle was a British daily newspaper. It ceased publication on 17 October 1960, being absorbed into the Daily Mail. Its offices were in Bouverie Street, off Fleet Street, London, EC4Y 8DP, England.-Daily Chronicle:...
. In 1946 he married Willesden
Willesden
Willesden is an area in North West London which forms part of the London Borough of Brent. It is situated 5 miles north west of Charing Cross...
born Cynthia Vickers who at the time of their first meeting was a Red Cross ambulance driver. Theirs was not a happy marriage but the couple never divorced. Nevertheless
Mrs Havank features as Carlier's (non-married) partner under the name of Aranea Forster.
Havank lived most of his life abroad in the south of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on Majorca (Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
), and in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It may, therefore, be considered quite remarkable that he suffered his fatal heart attack in his Leeuwarden’s Amicitia hotel room at a less than thirty yards distance from his birthplace.