Yael van der Wouden

Yael van der Wouden is a Dutch author born in 1988 who writes literary fiction exploring themes of desire, repression, and historical memory. Her debut novel *The Safekeep* (2024) garnered significant critical acclaim, winning the 2024 Booker Prize and establishing her as a major new voice in contemporary literature. Set in post-World War II Netherlands, the novel examines forbidden desire and buried secrets with psychological intensity. Van der Wouden's writing is characterized by its atmospheric tension, complex character dynamics, and nuanced exploration of queer identity against historical backdrops. She has also published short fiction and essays, and currently divides her time between the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.