'Beyond the Yellow Bridge -
the Blue Helmet and the Girl of Srebrenica' (1997)

In 1997, Bob Coppes was the first author in the Netherlands to publish a novel about the drama in former Yugoslavia, ‘Beyond the Yellow Bridge – the Blue Helmet and the Girl of Srebrenica’; the story about the tragedy of Srebrenica, a Muslim girl and a Dutchbatter (a soldier in the Dutch Army).

Publishing company De Arbeiderspers in Amsterdam about ‘Beyond the Yellow Bridge – the Blue Helmet and the Girl of Srebrenica’:

“We already knew that desperate diseases need desperate remedies, but we didn’t learn from it. In the literary docudrama by Bob Coppes we see the drama of former Yugoslavia through the eyes of a Muslim girl and a Dutch Blue Helmet.

One half of ‘Beyond the Yellow Bridge’ is for the story of the tragedy of Srebrenica. Alisa, a Muslim girl from Srebrenica, recounts her recognizable western life in the city. She lives with her mother and grandmother in a modern apartment, watches Dynasty daily and goes to school. Then her peaceful existence gets drastically disordered. First there is some rumbling in the distance (is that thunder or war?), then a boy from next door demonstratively appeals to his Serbian background. Soon ethnical separation is a fact. The city is besieged and life is completely chaotic.

The other half of ‘Beyond the Yellow Bridge’ is the story of Stephan, a Dutch UN soldier. He and his Unprofor colleagues take up residence in the compound near Alisa’s house in order to guard the ‘protected areas’. Just like his colleagues, Stephan is not able to respect the strict rules of keeping aloof and soon sees the powerlessness of the peace-keeping force. The first bombardment, the increasing isolation, the hunger and hardship, the massive flight – all of these horrible events unfold in front of Stephan and Alisa. The cold-bloodedly performed (and by Coppes cool-headedly expressed) ethnical cleansing forms the blood-curdling climax.

Bob Coppes artfully condenses the accounts he received from several Blue Helmets with the history of Stephan. He cleverly interweaves these with the true story of Alisa. A dramatic documentary, readable like a good novel, but horrible because it is no fiction.”

“Srebrenica. An eyewitness report as a novel.”

“… But above all there is the powerlessness of the blue helmet, who stood by and looked upon. Therefore, the dedication in the first pages of the book is meant cynically and meant as an indictment of politicians and the United Nations.”

“Bob Coppes combines historical facts, eyewitness reports and fantasy into modern historiography. ‘Beyond the Yellow Bridge’ is an equally accurate as involved, and equally moving as shocking report of a disrupting civil war, that ends in genocide in front of the international community.”

“The drama of Srebrenica in bewildering perspective. A novel and yet no fiction. Like this, the story hasn’t been told yet.”

Publishing company De Arbeiderspers

1997

‘Voorbij de Gele Brug – de blauwhelm en het meisje uit Srebrenica‘
Publishing company De Arbeiderspers, Amsterdam
ISBN 90-295-1198-2

The press about ‘Beyond the Yellow Bridge – the Blue Helmet and the Girl of Screbrenica’

Jaap Zuierveld in the Universiteitskrant – october 1997:

 “The book can best be described as a contemporary historical novel. Both leading characters, Stephan and Alisa, modelled on existing figures, take turns in giving their account of their experiences around Srebrenica.”

“… fascinating view of the experiences of two young people with a different background …”

“… With regard to the content the emotions are the best part of the book. Fear, sorrow, despair, but also hope, hope for a peaceful life, symbolised by the Yellow Bridge: There beyond the Yellow Bridge life was normal, but here it was one big, deep depression. In this way I would never be able to lie on the beach in the sun (…). I have cried, very long and very much alone.”