«Kees De Jongen» in Dutch with a Parallel Translation

"Kees De Jongen" is an autobiographical novel by Theo Thijssen about his childhood and youth in Amsterdam in the late 19th century. The main character, Kees, dreams of becoming a writer and often fantasizes about his future life. The book explores themes related to friendship, family, communication and search for one's place in life. The book is full of nostalgia for the past, but also contains optimistic views on the future.