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Aletta Stevens

Goodreads Author

Born

in Bukittinggi, Indonesia

Website

http://www.alettastevens.co.uk/

Twitter

AlettaStevens

Genre

Memoir, History, Biography

Member Since

October 2016

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/alettastevens

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Aletta Stevens was raised in Holland, born to an Indonesian father and a Dutch mother. After studying English Language at Sheffield University, she began work as a freelance translator and tutor in the UK. Her translation of the biography of Dutch film director Paul Verhoeven was published by Faber and Faber, and she is a regular contributor to ITI Bulletin, the journal of the Institute of Translation & Interpreting.
In her spare time, Aletta is a committee member of the Bath-Alkmaar Twinning Association, researching its origins story which goes back to WW2. Her interests include literature, Indonesian food, family history, jazz, and British comedy. Married to an Englishman, she has two grown-up children and lives in South-West England.

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Who is your favorite fictional couple, and why?

Aletta Stevens Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester. I admire the way they do not allow their difference in age and social class to stand between them. Their passion conquers …moreJane Eyre and Mr Rochester. I admire the way they do not allow their difference in age and social class to stand between them. Their passion conquers all, even Rochester's disfigurement after the fire. Surely, that is true love?!(less)

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Does your memoir contain any fiction?

Aletta Stevens No, this is a true story. It is the account of my search to find out what happened to my uncle in WW2 and a factual account of Holland under Nazi Occu…moreNo, this is a true story. It is the account of my search to find out what happened to my uncle in WW2 and a factual account of Holland under Nazi Occupation. However, the second part of the book contains a reconstruction (see preview) which reads like fiction, because it is dramatised. Nevertheless it is based entirely on ear- and eyewitness accounts, personal testimonies, a police report, and unpublished sources, such as a local war diary, a memoir and letters. Therefore it is not a biography or memoir in the conventional sense, but something in between. The process of writing inevitably entails a certain degree of reimagining. For example, I wrote a paragraph about my grandmother in which I imagine her standing in front of the mirror, getting ready to go out. This was inspired by three things: a photograph of her dressed up; my childhood knowledge of her character and complexion; and a silver pendant necklace watch I inherited from her. (less)

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Combine Editions
Aletta Stevens’s books

Average rating: 3.76 · 21 ratings · 5 reviews · 4 distinct works

	Looking for Uncle Joop: A Long-Lost Story from Nazi-Occupied Holland 3.70 avg rating — 20 ratings — published 2017 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Remarkable Journey of Mr Prins: World War II, Jewish Refugees and the Bath-Alkmaar Friendship it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ontsnapping naar Bath: De gedenkwaardige reis van een Joodse vluchteling 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Het tweede schot: Een familieverhaal uit bezet Friesland 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars