Duivels plezier en satanisch medelijden

the long version

A thorough and very lively essay about dutch novelist Willem Frederik Hermans and his oeuvre, with many references to their mutal discussions. It is followed by 12 pages of notes about the dutch literary scene and its actors. De Jong qualifies Hermands as 'a dutch Schopenhauer' and acknowledges that his rancor and vengeful attitude have engendered well-structured and sometimes beautiful stories and novels which, in his opinion, belong to the best of dutch 20th century literature.