De donkere kamers van Damokles, by W. F. Hermans, Academica, 1979 ISBN 0868740373

De donkere kamers van Damokles by Willem Frederik Hermans.

'Literatuur van die lae lande' with notes by John Miles

Published by Academica, Pretoria and Cape Town 1979 

 De donker kamers van Damokles is a psychological (war) novel and is the story of one man’s life, and how it is changed by the Nazi occupation of Holland during World War II. 

Willem Frederik Hermans' novel of intrigue and espionage is told not in first person narrative but has the quality of first person narrative since the story follows one Henri Osewoudt so closely the reader looks over Osewoudt's shoulder throughout the entire novel. Occasionally the narrator conveys Osewoudt's thoughts and feeling, but it's the fast-paced action driving the story told in short unnumbered chapters, short chapters fueling a keen sense of urgency as the story unfolds in twists and turns. 

This book would also be useful to students of Dutch (Afrikaans/Nederlands) as it has comprehensive notes by John Miles and would have been part of University studies. I am not certain if it still is, but it is a possibility.

This hardcover book is in a very good condition. It has no dust cover, and no indication that it ever had one.  The only signs of use are around the corners of the binding on the outside. Inside, the pages show only the slightest yellowing with no condition issues to report. 

The only mark on the book is the inscription/name written down as you open the book dated 1981.

It seems to be a very rare book as I have not been able to find a single copy online in South Africa, and only a listing for the book internationally but none for sale. Most of them in the Netherlands.

From the few online reviews available this book, by all accounts, are easy to read and quite gripping with lots of action and adventure.

A good addition to your bookshelf.