The Evenings
The Evenings by Gerard Reve, published by Steerforth Press on October 1, 2024, is the first English translation of a postwar literary work. This 320-page novel follows twenty-three-year-old Frits, an office worker who grapples with the absurdities of life while living with his parents. As he navigates his mundane existence, Frits experiences disturbing dreams and engages in conversations with a toy rabbit, all while seeking meaning in the seemingly trivial moments of his daily routine.
Readers will find a narrative that unfolds over ten evenings in December, capturing Frits’s darkly humorous reflections as he drinks, smokes, and wanders through a gloomy city. The story explores themes of coming of age and the complexities of everyday life, presenting a unique perspective on the human experience. With its blend of wit and introspection, The Evenings offers a profound look at the small triumphs and heartbreaks that shape our lives, making it a noteworthy addition to the realm of world literature.
Official synopsis Publisher
THE FIRST ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF A POSTWAR MASTERPIECE
‘I work in an office. I take cards out of a file. Once I have taken them out, I put them back in again. That is it.’
Twenty-three-year-old Frits – office worker, daydreamer, teller of inappropriate jokes – finds life absurd and inexplicable. He lives with his parents, who drive him mad. He has terrible, disturbing dreams of death and destruction. Sometimes he talks to a toy rabbit.
This is the story of ten evenings in Frits’s life at the end of December, as he drinks, smokes, sees friends, aimlessly wanders the gloomy city street and tries to make sense of the minutes, hours and days that stretch before him.
Darkly funny and mesmerising, The Evenings takes the tiny, quotidian triumphs and heartbreaks of our everyday lives and turns them into a work of brilliant wit and profound beauty.
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “The Evenings” about?
Who is the author of “The Evenings”?
When was “The Evenings” published?
What is the ISBN for “The Evenings”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
