Kneeling on a Bed of Violins is a book written by Jan Siebelink. It is a compelling description of a family that, under pressure from religion, becomes completely captivated by the Calvinist faith. When reading this book you will discover what the consequences can be for a family with a thriving business. The film adaptation of this special book started in May 2015. The film premiered in theaters at the beginning of September 2016.
- Details from the book Kneeling on a Bed of Violins
- Jan Siebelink
- Kneeling on a bed of violins
- Jozef Mieras at Hans
- Family and religion
- The film
- The book evokes conflicting feelings
Details from the book Kneeling on a Bed of Violins
- Title: Kneeling on a bed of violins
- Writer: Jan Siebelink
- Publisher: The busy bee
- Date: first edition 2005; fifty-first edition: 2011
- ISBN: 9789023464228
Jan Siebelink
Jan Siebelink was born in Velp in 1938. His father had a floristry. Jan was raised in a heavily Christian environment. He became a teacher of Dutch and French and studied French language and literature. Siebelink received the F. Bordewijk prize. In 2017 he suffered a stroke that he struggled to survive. Siebelink also experiences faith as something beautiful that he does not want to miss. His first book was called: Nightshade. Jan Siebelink has written several books, including:
- Vera
- Margaret
- Suez Quay
- Honest men on bicycles
- Angels of darkness
- Oscar Kristelijn’s flowers
- The boy next door
Kneeling on a bed of violins
One can say that in this book the writer Jan Siebelink himself tries to come to terms with his youth. The main character Hans comes from a family where his father was a tyrant. His childhood was not easy. He left his parental home at a young age and ended up in The Hague. There Hans comes into contact with a man from the church, a somewhat strange figure who leaves a special impression on Hans. Hans starts dating Margje and they get married and start their own nursery where many violins are grown that need good care. The couple initially does very well economically. They love each other very much and the future looks bright. They have a son Ruben.
Jozef Mieras at Hans
Then the man from the church Jozef Mieras comes again. He sells religious books to Hans every time and they have heated debates. These expensive books are carefully stored in the greenhouses so that Margje does not see them. Heavy texts from the Bible are proclaimed and Hans becomes increasingly captivated by the church. He goes to Lunteren to attend meetings and even takes his son with him afterwards. Margje is powerless but does not intervene.
Family and religion
There is a second son Tom. The eldest son is also very religious and reads prayers endlessly before going to sleep. Religion increasingly controls the family, with Margje trying to take care of the family and the nursery as best as possible. On Sundays hours should be spent in prayer. First Hans leads the prayer, but later this is taken over by the gentlemen of the church. Hans is increasingly attending church meetings. The nursery could run well if the work was sufficiently motivated, but faith and the heavy Calvinist meetings are stronger. Then a swimming pool is built next to the nursery and the peace and quiet is over. The youngest son has now rebelled against the situation in the parental home and seeks refuge in the bar by the pool. Disagreement arises with the neighbors. When Hans becomes ill, the nursery has to be sold and the family faces financial difficulties. Ruben marries a girl who is allowed to participate in the household prayers and she fits in with the family without professing faith herself.
The film
The film premiered in September 2016 and received mixed reviews . More attention has been paid to Margje’s role in the film. There is also some humor added to this otherwise tragic story.
The book evokes conflicting feelings
Rarely have I read a book where my own feelings were so contradictory. On the one hand, you want to read on and hope that Hans will repent. On the other hand, the work of the church lords is so disgusting that you want to put the book aside. I also feel deeply sorry for Margje, but at the same time I think she should have stood up for herself much harder. Hans may have been lost to her, but she could have led a different life together with her children. Sometimes I also admire her for managing to keep peace in the house. But in my opinion the price is too high, also for the children. In any case, the book shows what religion can do in a family and it is, as the Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote: poignantly beautiful!