Like always, Lucas and his mother spend the summer in his grandfather's house, far away from the city. This summer, however, things are different: his grandfather died, and for the first time people start to talk about his past. Lucas soon becomes aware of the fact that people do not tell him everything. Certain aspects of what his grandfather did during the war and even long after, are kept a secret.
Through this long summer of oppressive heat and suspense, Lucas becomes aware of many things he does not understand. What can his Grandfather have done during the war to provoke such hostility in his own home town? Why is there growing crime and tension in the neighbourhood? How should he respond to his new friend, Benoit, whose arguments confuse and compel him, or to Caitlin, with her enigmatic ways and her beautiful, sad dancing? And how should he act when the crisis comes?
Provoost skillfully points out the seductive - and almost enchanting - appeal right extremism can have on young people who do not understand the connection between right wing values from a past generation and racism, neo-nazism and nationality today. In Provoost's own words: 'I want the reader to experience what Lucas experiences. Actually, I was especially interested in the sophisms and the rhetoric of extremism: how is it that what those people proclaim can seem persuasive and plausible?'
A deep, disturbing book about the inexorable influence of the past on the present, the seductive power of extreme nationalism and racism, the complexities of moral and political choice, and the gulf between intentions and consequences. Also a novel about love, fear, anger and forgiveness, showing that life consists of dilemmas rather than of smooth choices.
This book was made into a movie, trailer YouTube video.
English edition
- Falling
St. Leonards (Australia): Allen & Unwin, 1997
Translated by John Nieuwenhuizen
ISBN: 1 86448 444 6
Dutch editions
- Vallen
Pandora, 2007
ISBN 978 90 467 0119 5
- Vallen
Amsterdam: De Volkskrant/Querido, De Schatkist van Woutertje Pieterse, 2007
ISBN 987 90 451 0448 5
- Vallen
Malmberg: Den Bosch/Van In, Boektoppers, 2005
ISBN: 90 345 2880 4
- Vallen
Antwerpen: Houtekiet, midprice editie, 2004
ISBN: 9052407819 tot 1/1/07
ISBN: 9789052407814
Cover Jan Hendrickx
- Vallen
Malmberg: Den Bosch/Van In, Boektoppers, 2002
ISBN 90 345 0607X
- Vallen
Antwerpen: Houtekiet/Fontein, filmeditie, 2001
ISBN: 90 5240 636 9
- Vallen
Wolters/Noordhoff, Groningen, Jonge Lijsters, 1997
ISBN: 9001 54959 4
- Vallen
Eindhoven: Grootdruk-Uitgeverij, 1994
ISBN: 90 6933 169 1
- Vallen
Antwerpen/Baarn: Houtekiet/Fontein, 1994
264 pag.
Cover: Gert Dooreman
ISBN 90 5240 278 7
Swedish editions
- Fallet
Stockholm: Opal, 2006
Translated by Anna Karlsson and Ingrid Wiken Bonde
ISBN: 9172991992
- Fallet
Stockholm: En bok for alla, pocket edition, 1999
Translated by Anna Karlsson and Ingrid Wiken Bonde
ISBN: 91 7221 085 0
- Fallet
Stockholm: Opal, 1995
Translated by Anna Karlsson and Ingrid Wiken Bonde
ISBN: 91 7270 756 9
German editions
- Fallen
Weinheim: Beltz & Gelberg, pocket edition, 2002
ISBN-10: 3-407-78886-X
ISBN-13: 9783407788863
- Fallen
Weinheim: Anrich, 1996
Translated by Silke Schmidt
ISBN: 3 89106 281 8
Norwegian editions
- Fallet
Oslo: Aschehoug, feesteditie, 1997
Translated by Bodel Engen
ISBN: 82 03 24179 4
- Fallet
Oslo: Aschehoug, 1996
Translated by Bodil Engen
ISBN: 82 03 24 092 5
Polish edition
- Upadki
Warschau: Ezop, 2006
Translated by Jadwiga Jedryas
ISBN: 83 89 133 22 9
Slovenian edition
- Padec
Dob pri Domalah: Mi, 2005
Translated by Mateja Seliskar Kenda
ISBN: 961 6506 68 4
Finnish edition
- Putoaminen
Helsinki: Tammi, 1999
Translated by Anita Ode
ISBN: 951 31 0899 6
Danish edition
- Fald
København: Høst & Søn, 1997
Translated by Nina Malinovski en Ludo Leroy
ISBN: 87 14 19366 3
French edition
- Le piège
Paris: Seuil, 1997
Translated by Francoise de Brebisson
ISBN: 9 05 240287 7
Spanish edition
- La caída
Madrid: Acento, 1997
Translated byNadine Belien
ISBN: 84 483 0194 3
Catalan edition
- La caiguda
Barcelona: Editorial Cruilla, 1996
Translated by Carolina de Jong en Gustau Raluy
ISBN: 84 8286 311 8
