During a long, alcohol filled night of carnival nobody is who he is. Everybody is in costume and in a role. Ralf grew up on ships and is dressed up as a ferryman and he steers people to the other side of the night. But a man, dressed as a vicar, says to Ralf that you’re not dressed as someone else at carnival. No, at carnival you are finally yourself.

Ralf meticulously keeps score of his beers, gins and other liquids in the narrow and busy streets and bars of Venlo. His sea legs will keep him up so that he can compete with the most experienced carnival veterans. But he discovers that this festival is not just about drinking and have sex in a dark alleyway. Once in a while he thinks about his family at home, his girlfriend Sara and her children. He had a crush on her since they were both in primary school and then he met her twenty-seven years later as a single mother of four children. There and then he decided to take care of her and her children.

To this colorful scenery of carnival unfolds the story of a man who discovers the deeper meanings of this festival. With warmth, unity and a serious tone for fun and frolicking. But he also discovers that he has lost himself while taking care of this family. In the end he rediscovers himself, almost just like the vicar told him.

'The most tender novel that I ever read.' - Connie Palmen

‘Van Mersbergen writes with his heart wide open, but avoids cheap sentiment at all times. I haven’t had such a reading experience in a long time.’ – Het Parool *****

‘Jan van Mersbergen has become one of the most interesting Dutch authors of the past ten years. He is the kind of author that can invoke something great and unsentimental with very little means. To pull you into his world and into the heads of his characters.’ – NRC Handelsblad

‘A small masterpiece. Shaped like a small heartfelt tale on ordinary people, this is Van Mersbergens sixth, a great story on purification and reflection, religious aspects included.’ – de Volkskrant *****

‘Beautiful. Silent and raging, constructed and unhinged. Truly. Hats off.’ – Gerbrand Bakker

'Once in a while you read a book from cover to cover, this book wouldn’t have it any other way. Beautiful! Fantastic how the different storylines are intertwined. And a magnificent ending with…’ – Koops Book Store