About the book

Joseph Haydn in his final hours, Judith in the act of decapitating Holofernes, sultry summers—in this deft collection of short stories, Margriet de Moor takes readers on a journey through historical and personal moments. From Amsterdam to Israel, from Vienna to the countryside, into the past and back to the present, all while exploring huge themes such as love, being a parent and death. Each tale is told in De Moor’s distinctive assured, playful voice. In one story, for example, Mr. and Mrs. God discuss the future of mankind from up in heaven:

Late in the evening, once the reading light had been turned off, God said to his wife, ‘I’m not happy.’ She rolled over onto her side, put her hand on his stomach, thought: oh no, not again, and said soothingly, ‘Try to get some sleep.’