An intriguing and suspenseful novel about the situation in the 1920s British Mandate Palestine. In his afterword, Hans-Albert Walter expressly does not want to see the novel as a key novel in which De Vriendt symbolizes the Dutch gay writer and Zionist and later anti-Zionist Jacob Israel de Haan. In my opinion, Hans-Albert Walter analyzes the novel almost to death in his admittedly very elaborate afterword in which he without any reluctance relates Sigmund Freud's views on the neurotic background of homosexuality to the protagonist (and mind you, written in 1995!).

A fascinating and very well written story about a mentally disturbed man, about sexual, moral and social repression and the dangers of a society that prefers to look away. Based on the life of Paul Daniel Schreber who became an object of study for Sigmund Freud.

Deeply tragic, humorous, ironic and enraged. Must read for everyoner interested in Exil-Literatur and European history in the thirties. A magnificent book, an engrossing read, and far more than the subtitle "Roman" a document.