South African born Louis Boshoff has been working in the arts industry for the last few years as an art and design critic. Hailing from Pretoria but having had to move around a lot as a child, has sparked his interest in communities and their differences.
He has written numerous articles on South African and international art. Through his travels he has however been inspired to expand into fiction writing with a particular emphasis on historical novels.
'There is a familiarity in history that everyone can identify with' he says, 'it is this identity search that I find strangely relevant in the interconnected global community today'.
For Louis the history of art and the history of society is inextricably bound. His work centres on the late mediaeval and renaissance trade routes as a metaphor for today's global economics. Cultural and religious sentiments are some of important components of humanity that is highlighted in his writing. The context may explain a lot about current social sensibilities but the influence of heritage is a large factor in conflicts today still.
His previous novel was set in fifteenth century Constantinople and the Mediterranean which he visited in 2011. Due for publication in 2014, this novel explores the sexual politics of Venice and the relationships between Europe and the Middle East.
'It is almost uncanny how these issues are still relevant in contemporary society'Louis remarks, 'the distance provided by the historical setting provides a perspective that is removed but not foreign'.
The socio- anthropological and emotive situations are explored through fictional character development and at times through near sensationalist dramatisations.
The year 2013 marks the centenary of the 400 year old canal belt of one of the worlds important trade cities. This is why Amsterdam is an ideal location for inspiration and research. Louis hopes to incorporate this into a new novel through his exploration of the city and it's people.
'The library of history is only one aspect, seeing how certain things are done or not done is part of the revelation of social integration'.