Toon Kortooms omnibus - this young man - sun over the Peel - and now into the kitchen!

1. This Young Man (1947)

This is one of Kortooms' early novels and contains strong autobiographical elements. The story follows a young, somewhat rebellious and idealistic teacher in the countryside (Kortooms himself was a teacher before he started writing full-time). The book is full of hilarious anecdotes about the ins and outs of village school life, interactions with the farming community, and the inevitable clashes with local authorities.

2. Sun Over the Peel (1966)

In this novel, Kortooms returns to his beloved Peel region, but this time with a sunny and optimistic outlook. It describes the modernization of the countryside and how the idiosyncratic, conservative Peel inhabitants deal with the changing zeitgeist of the 1960s. It is a warm, humorous portrait of family traditions, village festivals, and an unconditional love for nature.

3. And Now, Into the Kitchen..! (1971)

This is a true comedy and one of the funniest books in his oeuvre. The story revolves around a somewhat conservative man who, due to circumstances, suddenly has to run the household and is sent into the kitchen — a task that at the time was traditionally left entirely to women. His complete incompetence in cooking, washing, and cleaning leads to a series of comical disasters and misunderstandings.

The Cover Illustration

The painting in the middle shows a beautiful, expansive autumn landscape in the Peel. We see the typical birch trees with their white and black trunks and golden yellow leaves, surrounded by the wild, marshy peat landscape. It reflects the deep connection Toon Kortooms had with this specific piece of Dutch nature.