This anniversary edition is an homage to Hugo Claus' person and ‘Het verdriet van België’, which is generally regarded as his magnum opus. In this book, Hugo Claus describes the boyhood of protagonist Louis Seynaeve. Louis tries to find clarity in the confusion and deceit surrounding him. Only by fantasizing, violating reality, can he survive. Lying as a survival strategy. With this semi-autobiographical bildungsroman Claus creates the ultimate lie or a new truth. In the design, lying is key. Lying as an escape, hiding from reality. So many lies that it becomes a second skin.