Simon Vestdijk was a renowned Dutch writer, poet, essayist, translator, music critic, and physician. Born in Harlingen, Netherlands, he initially pursued a career in medicine after studying in Amsterdam. However, he soon transitioned to focus on writing, becoming one of the most significant Dutch writers of the 20th century. His literary contributions were extensive, both in volume and impact, earning him a nomination for the Nobel Prize in Literature fifteen times. In 1950, Vestdijk was honored with the prestigious P.C. Hooft Award, the highest literary distinction in the Dutch linguistic realm.

During the German occupation, he was held hostage alongside other Dutch intellectuals, primarily for rejecting adherence to the Chamber of Culture. Vestdijk is particularly celebrated for his psychological novels, such as the Anton Wachter series written between 1934 and 1960, and historical novels like The Fifth Seal (1937). Despite his literary success, he battled severe depression from an early age. Vestdijk's work, marked by its psychological depth and historical relevance, has been translated into major Western European languages and adapted for film and television.