Wandelend op weg naar geluk

Tijdschrift voor Nederlandse Taal- en Letterkunde, vol. 141, pp. 241–271

Abstract

This article provides a comparison of happiness discourses in walking stories published in the Van Oorschot Terloopsseries by millennial and non-millennial authors. In order to chart how authors reflect on the interrelatedness of walking and well-being in their walking narratives, we have analysed three stories by millennial-writers – Omwegen (2023) by Thomas Heerma van Voss, Bergje (2020) by Bregje Hofstede and De groef (2021) by Maartje Wortel – and three by non-millennials: De beloning (2022) by Stine Jensen, Lentehonger (2022) by Sander Kollaard and Je keek te ver (2022) by Marjoleine de Vos. The comparison not only shows that dominant discourses – as articulated by Hyman (2014a) – are strongly recognizable in all travel stories, but also exposes similarities and differences between generations. The Terloopstitles are consistent with Demeyer and Vitse’s (2021) thesis that the literature of millennials expresses an affective crisis more strongly than that of writers of earlier generations.

Authors 2

1. Luna Gloudemans
   Affiliation as printed

   Onafhankelijk onderzoeker

2. Esther Op de Beek Aachen

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Universiteit Leiden