Library of Congress’s Archive of World Literature
On June 12, awardwinning Flemish author Bob Mendes recited from his work Vergelding: Voorspel tot Saddam’s Oorlog, or Prelude to Saddam’s War (1992), for the Library of Congress’s Archive of World Literature on Tape.
In 1993 Vergelding was awarded the “Gouden Strop” (Golden Noose) for the best thriller or spy novel published in the Dutch language. This year the English translation of this work was published under the title, Vengeance:
Prelude to Saddam’s War. Also included among his publications are Het Chunnel Syndrome or Cl-tunnel Syndrome (1989), currently being translated into English. Link (1994) and Meedogenloos. or Without Pity (1995).
Mr. Mendes was welcomed to the Library by David Kraus, acting chief of the European Division, and Margrit B. Krewson, the division’s German/Dutch area specialist.
Mr. Mendes was born in Antwerp, Belgium. In 1963 he became a member of the National College of Belgian CPAs. He retired as senior partner and business
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Awardwinning Flemish author Bob Mendes reads from his work Prelude to Saddam’s War for the as Library’s Archive of World Literature on Tape.
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manager for a CPA firm, but is still a member of the board of directors.
He currently resides in Schoten, Belgium.
His works Een Dag van Schaamte, Vergelding, Link and Het Chunnel Syndrome are critically acclaimed examples of the genre “factionthrillers,” in which the author interweaves fictional stories with actual events. The events leading up to the Gull War are the factual backdrop for Vergelding.
Mr. Mendes researches historical archives, broadcast and print media sources for his information. Mr. Mendes is also the author of short stories, several of which were selected for inclusion in the 1994 edition of Spannend Gebundeld (Thrillingly Packaged), an anthology of works by the best Dutch, Flemish and American practitioners of the thriller.
He recently published two plays, Virus and Een Kwestie van Geld (A Question of Money).
The author was accompanied by Francoise Maertens of the Flemish Community, Embassy of Belgium, and H.G. Smittenaar, his translator and publisher in the United States.
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