His Own People

More about the book

Set in the enchanting palm-room of the Grand Continental Hotel in Rome, the narrative captures the surreal atmosphere where guests resemble underwater creatures in a luminous, green-lit space. As a Hungarian band plays, the tea-drinkers, oblivious to their peculiar surroundings, float out like aquatic beings. A young man, remaining behind, reflects on the extraordinary nature of the gathering, feeling uplifted by the experience, as if he too could transcend reality. The scene evokes a dreamlike quality, blending the ordinary with the fantastical.