Tessa de Loo

[1] Born in Bussum in North Holland, de Loo was the oldest of three children.

In 1976, she returned to university but finally decided to devote her life entirely to writing.

[3] The award-winning novel tells the story of twin sisters who were separated during the Second World War, one living in Germany, the other in the Netherlands.

They meet again when they have both reached old age, providing a framework for presenting the history of relationships between the two countries.

Now living in the south of Portugal, Tessa de Loo has become one of the most successful Dutch novelists.