[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#B59352″ custom_padding=”30px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”75ab311a-1cd9-4e94-a1b9-42a8d49408b0″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
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[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1000px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”margin: auto;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”75ab311a-1cd9-4e94-a1b9-42a8d49408b0″ text_font=”|600|||||||” text_text_color=”#FFFFFF” text_letter_spacing=”0.02em” text_line_height=”2.6em” ul_line_height=”2.6em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A slavery story: life under gabriel crul’s rule.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/bakas.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Beyond-the-Sugar-Cane-book-cover.jpeg” title_text=”Beyond the Sugar Cane book cover” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”500px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” custom_padding=”30px||5px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”2″ make_equal=”on” module_class=”no-padding” _builder_version=”4.16.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1535px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/bakas.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/beyond-the-sugarcane-house.jpeg” title_text=”beyond the sugarcane house” _builder_version=”4.27.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”margin: auto;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”75ab311a-1cd9-4e94-a1b9-42a8d49408b0″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#211452″ text_letter_spacing=”0.02em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Brazilian-Indian gay couple Nilson and Ishaan are in their mid thirties and think of settling down in Brazil where the sugarcane plantation that once belonged to Nilsons greatgrandfather, is up for sale. While exploring the derelict, once grand, wooden plantation house, the discovery of old love letters of greatgrandfather turns their lives upside down.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”on|on|on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” disabled=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_main_element=”margin: auto;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1150px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”columnt-count: 2;” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1150px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_css_main_element=”column-count: 2;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”column-count: 1;” custom_css_main_element_phone=”column-count: 1;”]<\/p>\n The Male Harem<\/span><\/em><\/strong> is a novel for readers drawn to layered romance, cross-cultural encounters, and the allure of history made personal. With richly drawn characters, a mystery that bridges continents, and a deep respect for India’s past, it offers the pace of a modern page-turner and the resonance of an epic. It is a shared journey \u2014 of love, identity, and the stories that outlive us.<\/span><\/p>\n Readers in India are unlikely to have read anything like this before. Yet ten years after successful Dutch novelist Vinco David<\/strong> (1961-2023) wrote it, The Male Harem<\/em>, A Dutch Indian Tale of Masculine Love<\/strong>, is now here. First published in the Netherlands in 2006, the novel received rave reviews and became a best seller.<\/span><\/p>\n The Indian edition of Vinco David<\/strong>‘s bestselling Dutch novel The Male Harem<\/em><\/strong> was launched in the gardens of India’s world famous monument to love \u2014 the eternal Taj Mahal in Agra \u2014 on 19 November 2025, the late author’s birthday.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”768px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”2rem|2rem|2rem|2rem|true|true” border_width_right=”1px” border_width_left=”1px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Vinco David: <\/strong>\u2018As a Dutchman, I first fell in love with my Indian partner \u2014 now my husband of over 25 years \u2014 and through our bond I also discovered a deep love for India itself. Following one of my more than 40 visits to India, I began writing this novel during an unexpected delay at a European airport. This exciting, passionate tale was waiting in the air, urging me to capture it. Inspiration flowed effortlessly. The opulence of maharaja palaces, the vivid colours, and the intoxicating scents of India all shaped the first chapter, which I wrote entirely by hand, as if guided by something greater than myself.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018Although the tale features male lovers, most of The Male Harem’s<\/strong> readers turned out to be heterosexual women \u2014 proving that a message of love transcends boundaries. This novel carries a universal truth: love between people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds is not only possible but deeply enriching, even in the face of criticism.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018I believe with all my heart that love is the most powerful force in the world. My greatest wish is to live on in the hearts and minds of readers, which is why I want this novel to be available freely in India. After my passing, I hope every Indian \u2014 whether rich or poor, straight, gay or bisexual \u2014 will be able to read it without cost.<\/em><\/p>\n \u2018My dream is simple yet profound: to touch, inspire and move you. Because in the end, love is love.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”1150px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Vinco David<\/span><\/strong> passed away two years ago. His widower \u2014 well-known Dutch Indian futurist and trendwatcher Adjiedj Bakas<\/strong> \u2014 therefore acted as his representative for the book launch event in the gardens of the Taj Mahal in Agra.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#B59352″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_2_text_align=”left” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”1150px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” link_text_color=”#FFFFFF” background_layout=”dark” max_width=”1150px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/p>\nGet your complimentary copy<\/h2>\n