Louis Paul Boon Ordre des livres

This, the author writes, is "the novel of the individual in a world of barbarians." It is the story of Ondine and Oscarke, a young married couple adrift in a Belgian landscape that is darkening under the spread of industry and World War I. Ondine, who "came to serve god and live," finds that she must "serve the gentlemen" instead. Oscarke, an aspiring sculptor, finds himself unsuccessfully scouring Brussels for work and, when he is finally hired, too tired to make his own art. They grow old and their four children grow up as "technology and mechanization, unemployment, fascism, and war" take over around them. War destroys their attempts to establish a better life, which they seek continually and against all odds. And the chapters about these characters, some of whom first appeared in Chapel Road, alternate with chapters about Boon himself, who describes the impossibility of modern life and the destruction of war. As this wide-ranging novel progresses, the author's struggles--both with writing and with his own life--come more and more to resemble those of his characters.

The narrative intertwines the childhood of Ondine and her brother Valeer-Traleer with the life of author Louis Paul Boon, who is creating his own novel titled Chapel Road. This vibrant tale features a cast of eccentric characters, including the artist Tippetotje and the outspoken journalist Johan Janssens, reflecting on societal issues. Additionally, it weaves in the myth of Reynard the fox and Isengrinus the wolf, exploring themes of greed, hypocrisy, and human folly. The book captures the essence of life on Chapel Road, spanning from the 1800s to the present.