Jacques Werup was born in 1945 in Malmo in southern Sweden, where he still lives. He has published works in many different genres, including novels, works of poetry, musical compositions, and musical analyses. He made his literary debut in 1971 with Returbiljett Polen (Return ticket to Poland) but first gained real prominence with the novel Casanovas senare resor (Casanova’s later journeys, 1979). Since then he has published more than thirty works and is one of Sweden’s most prolific writers. In 1995 he was awarded the city of Malmo’s Prize for Culture. He has also been involved in the musical scene as a jazz musician and cabaret performer. The excerpt that follows is from a novel published in 1983, which many critics consider to be one of his finest works.