Mensje van Keulen is a one of the most inspiring voice of contemporary Dutch literature. Reprinted many times since its publication in 1972, the novel Bleekers Zomer unfolds over a summer when a young man abandons his idyllic family life, seduced by a series of questionable characters and events. Brimming with fragments of quotidian encounters, Mensje’s lucid writing leaves an acidic charge on the tongue, refusing to conform to expectations. Spread a toxic splash of jam on your toast at the complimentary breakfast, a kitsch hotel room and a night of rough sex – the short story written for Extra Extra ricochets through martial mundanity.