Marconist

My name is Rolf. I am an historian. My specialization is Ancient Persia and Classical Greece.

I live in an old town called Amersfoort. But I have lived in many other places before. My country is flat and wet with many rivers, marshlands, and spectacular skies.

I like to travel, preferably by train. I also make journeys by bicycle. To be creative, I have to be on the road. I love forests and deserts. I am fascinated by swamps and the scary stories told about them. Poetry is my soulfood. My favorite city is Istanbul.

Artists that inspire me include Patti Smith, Heinrich Heine, Hugo Pratt, Joseph Roth, Jan Jacob Slauerhoff, and Hieronymus Bosch. I collect traditional music from the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

I am interested in myths, legends and fairy tales from around the globe. I also love to read fantasy, with a preference for the somewhat darker stuff. My favorite fantasy authors are Robert Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, Lord Dunsany, Fritz Leiber, and Tanith Lee.

I look forward to hearing more about who you are and where you live, and perhaps you could send me an image of something that is a symbol of your country. Any card is equally welcome. I appreciate in particular postcards with images of:

- city gates and other gates,
- mythical beasts,
- fairy tales,
- Alice in Wonderland,
- historical queens and kings,
- goddesses and gods,
- portraits of writers,
- train stations.