in_babylon_moring
2001 Nominated

In Babylon

artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

The worst blizzard the East Netherlands has seen in many years has left Nathan Hollander and his niece, Nina, snowbound in the deserted house of their late Uncle Herman. Waiting for the storm to subside, they piece together the story of their forefathers, a family of itinerant clockmakers who came from Eastern Europe to the Netherlands in the seventeenth century and fled to America in 1939.

In this funny, quirky, epic novel, Marcel Möring weaves a gloriously inventive and very human story about man’s constant drive towards progression and expansion, his coming and going, from the Old World to the New – and his desire, despite everything, for home and homeland.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Marcel
Möring

Marcel Möring is the bestselling author of MendelThe Great LongingIn Babylon, and The Dream Room. Widely considered the Netherlands’ leading contemporary writer, he lives in Rotterdam with his wife and children (from Publisher)

Marcel Möring is the bestselling author of MendelThe Great LongingIn Babylon, and The Dream Room. Widely considered the Netherlands’ leading contemporary writer, he lives in Rotterdam with his wife and children (from Publisher)

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Stacey
Knecht

Stacey Knecht is the translator of Marcel Moring’s The Dream RoomThe Great Longing, and In Babylon; Anke de Vries’s Bruises; Marga Minco’s The Glass Bridge;  Hugo Claus’s Desire; and Lieve Joris’s Back to the Congo. She has been the recipient of several distinguished accolades, including the James S. Holmes Translation Award (1993) and the Vondel Prize (1996). She lives in the Netherlands.

Stacey Knecht is the translator of Marcel Moring’s The Dream RoomThe Great Longing, and In Babylon; Anke de Vries’s Bruises; Marga Minco’s The Glass Bridge;  Hugo Claus’s Desire; and Lieve Joris’s Back to the Congo. She has been the recipient of several distinguished accolades, including the James S. Holmes Translation Award (1993) and the Vondel Prize (1996). She lives in the Netherlands.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
The Netherlands
Original Language
Dutch
Publisher
Flamingo, William Morrow
Translator
Stacey Knecht

RELATED FEATURES

Video April 7 2026

The 2026 Shortlist

Discover this year's Dublin Literary Award Shortlist
News April 7 2026

2026 Dublin Literary Award Shortlist is Announced

Delve into the 6 novels shortlisted this year.
News April 2 2026

Past Winner Spotlight: Michael Crummey

Reflecting on his 2025 Dublin Literary Award win with his novel 'The Adversary', libraries, literature and more.
News March 11 2026

Translator Spotlight: Jo Heinrich

Reflecting on translating the 2023 winning novel 'Marzahn, Mon Amour' and life as a literary translator.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.