The small, promotional publication of Haanvroeg consists of a single story lifted from the book Eindelijk volstrekt alleen (2008) in which it was published as a story or part under a different title, namely Wim Aaij. This publication history complicates the appreciation of Haanvroeg in two ways. Firstly, L.H. Wiener's work is often classified as a hybrid between a novel and short story; this raises the question to what extent Haanvroeg can be appreciated in isolation. Then, the title is hard to explain. The original title is much more apt.

L.H. Wiener is a relatively unknown, marginalized Dutch author. The publication of Eindelijk volstrekt alleen coincided with the 40th anniversary of his career as an author. The book takes the form of a tempestuous thunderstorm, an explosion of anger at all an everything around the main protagonist, to liberate him from his past and everything that has made him who he is. It is a veritable outburst of dissatisfaction with his current life, and the Dutch literary landscape of date.

Much of Wiener's work is described as autobiographical, which may mean that the first person narrator is the author. Haanvroeg is the biography of his authorship. It describes how he developed as an author in close rivalry to another young man from his small Dutch hometown, a rivalry in which he felt the other was superior; however, the other, "Wim Aaij" prematurely dies from cancer, and Haanvroeg is also an hommage to this dead friend and colleague.

In Haanvroeg Wiener vents his anger vis-a-vis the contemporary literary scene in the Netherlands. He refers to another Dutch author (whom?) as follows:

'Ronny Basart, weet je nog? Heeft in 1997, precies dertig jaar nadien, een dikke roman uitgebracht, De laatste lach, en daarmee zijn schrijversambitie meer dan waar gemaakt. Alleen al vanwege de pagina's 252-254 van zijn boek, waar een hilaries mortiervuur aan benamingen voor het mannelijk geslachtsdeel plaatsvindt. Ik had mij toen reeds lang van hem afgewend, hetgeen niet wegneemt dat dit boek zonder meer het predikaat 'meesterlijk' verdient, maar ja, veel te moeilijk en te literair voor het Kluun-publiek.
(p. 47/48)

An more in general he shows his disgust for chick-lit and any form of literature in which immediate gratification is celebrated over literary style, as follows:

Seks verkoopt, altijd. Een mooie kont op het omslag, of zo'n rooie ronde pijpmond en de kassa rinkelt. Dat gaat nooit over. Mijn nieuwe boek heet 'Eindelijk volstrekt alleen', een dodelijke titel natuurlijk, commercieel gesproken. 'De meisjes van 6 gym alfa' is veel beter. Of wat dacht je van 'Diana's lillende lippen', of 'Babettes bolle billen'.
Ik zou rijk kunnen worden, als ik een kut had en niet kon schrijven. (p. 53/54). ( )

Just a thin in-between 'book' (story might be a better word). A nice way to get to know a writer. I now know I won't read more by him. The book is too much autobiografical about a moment in time (1960s) and a way of living (writer on university in bragging student clubs) I don't care about.
This story is quite sad, as it tells about a friend and rival who dies in his twenties.

http://boekenwijs.blogspot.com/2009/12/haanvroeg.html ( )