Op 5 december 2025 ontving ik per e-mail een brief van
Christopher Fricker, vertaler Duits van The Golden Gate.
Dit schrijven bevat, zoals je hieronder kunt lezen, een
welgemeende oproep tot contact.

Dear Lydwina Meerman,

Please accept my apologies for writing in English – I speak a bit of Dutch, but certainly not enough to write.

I am getting in touch because Paul’s translation of the Golden Gate has been my constant companion for the past year and a half. I am the same book’s German translator, and when I started working on the book, I bought four of the five existing translations into other languages (French, Italian and Swedish besides your friend’s Dutch version; I have not been able to get hold of a copy of the Russian translation). While I can read some French, and can make out Italian and Swedish words, the Dutch version has felt like my guidebook. Dutch and German are of course related, and Paul’s wit and eloquence have continued to inspire me. I felt, on occasion, that I was translating Paul’s book as much as I was working on Vikram’s.

When I first embarked on the project (which, for me, has a very long backstory, but I will spare you those details), I had a dream of, perhaps, meeting up with the other people who have undertaken this most challenging of endeavours. I soon learnt that some of them, including the Swedish colleague, are no longer with us, but I do at least want to get in touch with you (and whoever of Paul’s friends would appreciate it) to say that his work has found a devotee in me.

I send all my best wishes

Christophe (Fricker)

cf@christophe-fricker.com