Reading as an act of resistance

In the spring of 1941, historian Johan Brouwer (1898-1943) publised Montigny, a study on Floris van Montmorency, count of Montigny, a diplomat who was send in 1566 to Filipe II, King of Spain, to negotiate over Dutch demands (Holland was ruled by the Spanish at this time). The count was captured, however, and quickly excecuted. Brouwer's biography of 'Montigny' came out a year into the German occupation of Holland and was meant to appeal to Dutch patriotism, says Brouwer's biographer Hendrik Henrichs. The copy of 'Montigny' that I purchased had a note glued to the interior. It reads: "Changeover every other Saturday, starting November 29 1941. You will bring the book to the person whose name follows yours." 19 names and adresses are then listed. Interestingly, a few passages in the book are expressly marked, including the following one on page 105. "It was just as ill-advised as it was unjustifiable to attempt to submit the Dutch with means of terrorism. The Dutch people could not be suppresed either with military terror or psychological force." Clearly, reading Montigny had a great symbolic value indeed.