Plankton , volume three of the cycle, was awarded the same Libris Prize this spring. Fortunately for all his readers, Het A.P. Beerta-Instituut , volume four and the thickest until now, appeared at the same time. I nterest in the megalomaniac novel cycle Het Bureau , is starting to assume unprecedented proportions. The appearance of the fourth part of the world s longest novel was a major news item and people rushed to the bookshops to pick up their copy of the latest volume. Readers who have followed Maarten Koning, Voskuil s alter ego, through the first three volumes find themselves hooked on Koning s melancholy musings, his acuteness and his merciless descriptions of his colleagues.
Many people are no doubt shocked and amused to recognise situations from their own workplace.
For a start, of course, its sheer size. In no other novel is the daily routine at work described at such length. This book couldn t be any shorter, said Voskuil in an interview. When you work in an institute like mine, it takes a long time to get to know everyone. Everyone is so identified with their role that really dramatic events don t occur.