Subject
Netherlands -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction Books
Best books
Maarten Maartens
My Lady Nobody: A Novel
"My Lady Nobody: A Novel" by Maarten Maartens is a fictional narrative written in the late 19th century. The story likely revolves around the character Ursula Rovers, the daughter of a cleric, and her complex relationships within her community, particularly with the Van Helmont family, including brothers Otto and Gerard, and the dynamics of their shared social world. Themes of love, self-perception, and the contrast between societal expectations and personal desires appear to be central, setting the stage for a tale of emotional growth and identity. The opening of the novel introduces Ursula in a pastoral setting, where she is picking peas in a garden on a hot summer morning. Through her interactions with her father, Dominé Rovers, and the arrival of the young and charming Gerard van Helmont, we get a glimpse into her character—she is hardworking yet contemplative, often distracted by the beauty of nature around her. The Dominé's earnest approach to life, filled with sermons about resisting temptation, contrasts with the more carefree nature of the younger generations, especially in how they view love and relationships. As Ursula navigates these early exchanges, it quickly becomes evident that her journey will involve not just the external pulls of romance and societal duty but also an internal struggle for self-definition amid the pressures of those around her.
Louis Couperus
Ecstasy, A Study of Happiness: A Novel
"Ecstasy, A Study of Happiness: A Novel" by Louis Couperus is a psychological novel published in 1892. The story follows widow Cecile van Erven and her complex relationship with Taco Quaerts, who sees her as an object of exalted love while she longs for something more earthly and human. Couperus explores themes of happiness and suffering through this tale of incomplete connections, glorifying a form of platonic love where spiritual devotion collides with unfulfilled desires, leaving his heroine caught between ecstasy and dissatisfaction.
Louis Couperus
Extaze: Een Boek van Geluk
"Extaze: Een Boek van Geluk" by Louis Couperus is a novel published in 1892. Young widow Cecile van Even lives quietly with her two sons, spending her days in dreams and melancholy. When she meets Taco Quaerts, a charismatic sportsman with a Don Juan reputation, she initially dislikes him. But an unexpected connection draws her toward this complex man who describes himself as having two sides—a soul and a beast within.
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