Saint Nicholas Eve

Saint Nicholas Eve is a novel written by Camille Lemonnier. The story is set in Brussels, Belgium, during the 19th century. The book revolves around the lives of two families, the Van Hoogenhuyzen and the Van der Molen. The Van Hoogenhuyzen family is wealthy, while the Van der Molen family is poor.The story begins on Saint Nicholas Eve, a holiday celebrated in Belgium where children receive gifts from Saint Nicholas. The Van der Molen family is struggling to make ends meet, and their children are disappointed that they won't be receiving any gifts. Meanwhile, the Van Hoogenhuyzen family is preparing for a grand celebration.As the night progresses, the two families' lives become intertwined in unexpected ways. The Van der Molen children sneak into the Van Hoogenhuyzen's celebration and are mistaken for the Van Hoogenhuyzen children. The Van der Molen father, who is a struggling artist, is hired to paint the portrait of the Van Hoogenhuyzen family. The two families begin to develop relationships that challenge their preconceived notions about each other.The novel explores themes of class, poverty, and privilege, and how they affect human relationships. It also delves into the complexities of family dynamics and the impact that societal expectations have on individuals. The book is a poignant portrayal of life in 19th century Belgium and is considered a classic of Belgian literature.Tobias went up the ladder now and again to see if Dolf were not coming back. The little port-hole of the Guldenvisch reflected its red light on the dark water; there was no other window alight in the town. In the distance a church clock rang out the quarters, the chimes falling through the night like a flight of birds escaped from a cage. Tobias listened to the notes of the music which spoke of the son whom he awaited.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.