I spent almost three days to finish reading this volume, which collects all prose works, consisting of four novels, three short story collections and thee novellas altogether just over 1100 pages. I had already read one novel, «Kandy» and one short story collection, «Tabee, New York» which I did not reread, before coming to China. Last week, I already read a volume of all collected short stories of Springer including two collections of short stories and one novella which are reprinted in this volume. Not included in this tome, written after 2001, but included in the previously mentioned short story collection «De verhalen» is the novella «Bangkok, een elegie» which I read a few years ago. It turns out that this novella is the only work of Springer I like, perhaps because it describes expat life as it applies to myself. Most other works describe colonial affairs and diplomacy from the perspective of obnoxious expat business men and diplomats as I often meet in China. They are the scum on the waves and I absolutely detest them and what they stand for. These unabashed imperialistic and colonial attitudes are the very fabric and pattern of Springer's work. I hated reading any and all of it. Totally disgusting. I rarely give up reading a book, but really couldn't stomach the whole of this and abandoned the final short story collection «Teheran, een zwanenzang» en the novella «Bandoeng-Bandung». If there is an axis of (Dutch) colonial and imperialistic evil it must surely be Indonesia - New Guinea - Ceylon (Sri Lanka) - Angola - Iran. Just imagine. ( )