Het ivoren aapje: Een roman van Brusselsch leven

The novel opens in a hushed Brussels salon, where the death of the elegant Mrs Chanteraine is observed in a room saturated with candlelight, heavy drapes, and fragrant bouquets. The meticulous description of the solemn chamber creates a timeless tableau, while an old priest kneels in unmoving reverence, embodying the weight of tradition. From this stillness, the narrative begins to pull back, revealing the intricate rituals of the city’s upper class.

Through a keen eye for psychological nuance, the author sketches a vivid picture of Brussels’s high bourgeoisie, its politics, and its public institutions, all filtered through a blend of imagination and careful observation. The story invites listeners to wander the streets and salons of early‑twentieth‑century Brussels, tasting its contradictions without ever crossing into outright biography. It is a portrait of a society caught between pretension and genuine feeling, setting the stage for the personal dramas that will soon unfold.