> Babelio : https://www.babelio.com/livres/Nooteboom-Du-printemps-la-rosee/149303

> Le dépaysement est total à l'entrée de "Du printemps, la rosée". Et ce n'est pas simplement parce que Cees Nooteboom nous entraîne vers les horizons lointains de cet Orient que l'on dit extrême. Il en résulte une belle évocation, sensible et intelligente, du dépaysement qui guette le voyageur européen en Orient, de ce qu'il peut en saisir et de ce qui, inéluctablement et obstinément, se dérobe à sa compréhension.
—Danieljean (Babelio)

The Dutch writer Cees Nooteboom is the author of numerous novels and travelogues. His passion for Germany and Spain is well known, and has resulted in several books dedicated to these two countries, some of which have been translated into various languages. For instance, De omweg naar Santiago (Engl. Roads to Santiago) is a magnificent book that deeply penetrates the mystique soul of Spain.

Compared to these works, the travel writing of Nooteboom to other destinations seems to be uninspired. He has been compared to Louis Couperus in the scope and impact of his travel writing. However, the only similarity that is obvious is that like Couperus, Nooteboom seems to avoid China. Van de lente de dauw. Oosterse reizen most clearly shows that of all countries in the Far East, Nooteboom is most interested in Japan. In fact, Van de lente de dauw. Oosterse reizen hardly qualifies as a travelogue to the Far East. With most essays dedicated to Japan, the other essays form an odd lot, as there are one essay about Iran, three about Myanmar, one about Malaysia, two about the various small states on the island of Borneo, one about Thailand, and one about Macao. In fact, a large part of the collection seems a retracing of Somerset Maugham's The Gentleman in the Parlour, a road winding though Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and ending in Macao.

Like Somerset Maugham, Nooteboom makes little mention of his travel companion. His observations are more obvious and direct, and lead to much pondering. All essays are very didactic, presenting the reader with a myriad of historical facts for edification. Both in the writing style and scenery, readers will find samples of large contasts, between beauty and ungliness, the holy and profane, the serene and banal. The essays are at once journalistic and very personal travel records. ( )