The Gap
June 2023. Sixty-year-old cardiologist Charles Dumont is on the point of boarding a flight to Naples. He has an appointment there with his past. Thirty years ago his first wife, Sylviane, mother of his daughter Claudia, disappeared without trace. In her farewell letter she promised she would see him again three decades later in Naples, where they spent their first holiday.
Without telling his family, Charles lands in Naples and by doing so abruptly returns to days gone by. As he drags himself around in the Italian heat and the moment of his assignation with Sylviane approaches, he descends further and further into his past with his ex. He wonders why he never told Claudia the truth about her mother and why all those years ago he didn’t opt for that other life. And, of course, whether Sylviana will actually show up.
An exhilarating, emotional novel whose relatable characters and exciting plot draw you in right from the start *****London Literary Scouting
In a rich and expressive style reminiscent of Italian cinema, Dangre focuses on a stormy relationship and examines the destructive (or liberating?) urge to break away from your own life. The novel explores themes including guilt, regret and parenthood, while with every page the clock ticks down to the eventual meeting on the Piazza del Plebiscito. ‘The Gap’ investigates the idea (or illusion?) of starting our lives over again and asks what happens when the past catches up with us.
‘The Gap’ has the allure of a classic post-war novel. Rich with references to Fellini but most reminiscent of the more compact, poetically charged narratives of Hugo Claus.Standaard der Letteren
Dangre’s language appeals to the senses, his composition is skilful, and he gives his exploration of love an overwhelmingly tangible quality.Humo
