Intimate letters reveal Dutch writers’ love story

In the Netherlands, the private letters between Elisabeth de Roos and Eddy du Perron, prominent literary figures of the 1930s, have been published for the first time.

Du Perron, a somewhat scandalous poet and critic, believed he had found his intellectual and romantic equal in de Roos, a respected essayist and book reviewer. He pursued her with a constant stream of letters, eventually convincing her to become his partner, a relationship they presented publicly as a close artistic collaboration.

Until now, understanding of their relationship relied largely on Du Perron’s perspective, notably his autobiographical novel where he portrayed de Roos as his muse. The newly released correspondence reveals de Roos was initially hesitant, balancing her career and personal life with past disappointments. She ultimately responded to Du Perron’s persistent devotion, telling him he had “literally conquered” her.

Kees Snoek edited the collection of letters, selecting from 75,000 words written by Du Perron to give more prominence to de Roos’s voice. While the letters offer insights into their shared intellectual world, the publication also includes extensive annotations and biographical details that some readers may find disruptive.

After Du Perron’s death, de Roos continued her literary work, translating classic novels and safeguarding her husband’s legacy, though she never allowed her own letters to be included in collections of his correspondence.