1957. Maarten Kooning, a somewhat shy academic, takes a job at an institute for the study of Dutch folk culture in Amsterdam, the very office led by Director Beerta. "I will do my job as well as I can. Just like a carpenter makes a cabinet," Maarten assures, but in reality, he quickly becomes bored with the work. Nevertheless, he meticulously creates maps indicating which superstitions are held in which regions. At the same time, Voskuil vividly describes the office life, where bullying and slacking off happen freely. At home, his wife Nicolien awaits him, who cannot understand why one would waste their life on paid work. Maarten's life is one long existential crisis; he is desperate about what he is doing - yet he returns to the office day after day. A delightful read! The novel cycle "D.