You've had so many amazing experiences in your life and at one time, I believe you were an attaché with the Dutch consulate, is that right?

A: Yes, after arriving in NY from Indonesia with a dollar in my pocket, the Dutch Embassy gave me a publicity job -diplomatic, no work permit needed, and tax-free Scotch at a dollar a bottle.

It's easy to see given how you've lived your life, with your foreign correspondent days, the books you write and their themes, that you sort of seem like a secret agent in some ways. Does that seem strange to you? Why do you think people view you that way, or do you not see it?

A: No, I don't see that. A crypto-commie or an anarchist maybe, but not a secret agent. But make me an offer!

Tell me what is on your desk at the moment?

1. Typewriter
2. Discarded pages from novel I am writing
3. First 60 pp of that novel
4. Bose ear stops
5. Pens and pencils
6. Webster's New World Dictionary
7. Larousse.

If you had a mantra that you could have the whole world repeat every day, a simple phrase to help us all have some hope for the future, what would it be?

A: Nul n'est besoin d'esperer pour entreprendre; that was William of Orange's mantra. (16th century Holland). (*You don't need to hope in order to do)

I'd like to thank Hans Koning for the sit-down and for his usual frankness and generosity of time. Listed below are just a few of Koning's books. To find out more, you can Google Koning, or check out his work on Amazon or begin with any of his books - they're all good. Other work can be found in The New Yorker and The Atlantic Monthly and many other publications.

sadi ranson-polizzotti