The Winged Watchman

Hilda van Stockum penned this novel less than two decades after World War II in order to keep the past alive for succeeding generations. Although she did not live in the nation of Holland (which is now called the Netherlands) during the time frame depicted in the novel, she did grow up there and returned later in life. However, her relatives survived the German occupation, and her brother died while serving as a pilot in the Royal Dutch Airforce. As a result of her correspondence with various relatives, van Stockum has created an accurate portrayal of this time period. By telling her story through the eyes of children like Joris and Dirk Jan, van Stockum focuses on the complexities of responding ethically to issues of outright injustice. For example, the children’s mother contends that telling a lie is a moral act if it saves another person’s life, and Father Kobus preaches that evil lives inside of everyone. Although the Verhagen boys gain considerable wisdom through these lessons, they do not lose their childlike joy and sense of hope, and the entire narrative retains an optimistic tone.