Ecstasy, A Study of Happiness: A Novel

In a quiet evening on Scheveningen Road, Dolf Van Attema finds himself standing in a modest boudoir, its rose‑wood furniture and lace‑shaded onyx lamp casting a gentle glow. He measures the room with deliberate steps, his thoughts drifting between the comforting routine of family visits and the lingering presence of a portrait of his deceased brother‑in‑law. The scene is suffused with the scent of violets and the soft murmur of a woman caring for her children, creating a delicate atmosphere of restrained tenderness.

Through Dolf’s calm observations, the story begins to explore what it means to seek happiness amid everyday obligations, lingering loss, and the subtle strains of illness that touch the household. The narrative captures the nuances of a close‑knit family, the quiet hopes they hold, and the gentle undercurrents that shape their search for contentment. Listeners will be drawn into a world where ordinary moments become a study of joy’s elusive, yet ever‑present, light.