In Hekegem’s Almout Castle, the two continue their quest for the woman, but the teacher soon finds himself in the midst of a secret society of Flemish-nationalist fanatics honouring the memory of the mysterious lieutenant Crabbe, a former ss officer. De Rijckel gradually loses control of the situation. When he realizes that his role is changing from witness to accomplice, he tries to disentangle himself from the oppressively hagiographic mythology surrounding Crabbe, clinging on to entirely impotent notions of duty and morality. When he finally manages to escape from the castle and finds refuge in a pub, other customers accuse him of paedophilia. Sandra will save him from the villagers, but he will have to rescue himself from the imminent darkness of lunacy.

In Amazement, the graphic events are recounted in many mutually enriching, if often contradictory, ways: not only does Korneel, De Rijckel’s psychiatrist in the mental institution, force the deranged teacher to write down what happened at Almout in a more or less linear manner, but De Rijckel manages to keep a secret diary as well as yet another notebook, containing crucial details concerning the people who drove him insane.

In Claus’ magisterial novel, the baroque plot is intertwined with strong psychological portraits, scenes from Flemish military history and lurid images of desire. Eminently readable as an adventure story, this scintillating tour de force also harbours an array of emotions and densely textured meanings. De verwondering is without any doubt one of the landmarks of twentieth-century Dutch literature.