Together with its successor, Zomer Te Ter-Muren (not translated!!), this is THE highlight of Dutch literature. Translators/ publishers where are you? It's time for a new print.

words are few, when it comes down to reviewing one of the masterpieces of 20th century writing. It is an absolute shame this book and its author is only known to specialists and freaks, even in the authors home-counrty belgium. read it and tell everyone you know how beautifull, tragic, inspiring, funny, confusing, touching and superb it is. and tell them how it changed your life. this is an absolute masterpiece, if kafka is a 20th century classic, or hemingway or joyce or who-ever, then louis-paul boon is too, no doubt whatsoever.

A complex but very rewarding book. There are 3 story lines, all at different times in history, but all set in the same part of Flanders, in Belgium, and all portraying a similar image of injustice and despair. Although they may seem unrelated, the attentive reader will soon discover the links. It is one of the most important books of contemporary Dutch literature. However, readers who dislike modernist may want to stay clear of this one. Personally, I do not care much for modernist fiction, but for Louis Paul Boon I am willing to make a big exception, as this is an exceptionally warm and at times humerous book