Willem Elschoth: 9,990 cheeses

Winner of the Flanders Prize for Literature and adapted into a film, *9,990 Cheeses* is a masterpiece of Dutch literature that tells the story of an ordinary office worker who stumbles into the cheese business. Through the clumsy endeavors of a character who evokes both laughter and pity, this novel satirizes modern society, where material wealth dictates order, and the inner turmoil of petty bourgeois trapped in reality. Although published in the 1930s, the work is surprisingly modern; aside from the typewriter and telephone, it reads like a story for us today. Larmans is a company employee barely holding onto his job to support his family. With nothing to boast about, he feels intimidated at prestigious events. One day, however, incredible luck strikes him. He receives a business proposal to exclusively supply premium Edam cheese throughout Belgium. Larmans immediately signs the contract, which may determine his fate. Twenty tons of premium Edam cheese—9,990 pieces of cheese—are on their way, but Larmans has no other special plans yet. There are certain things that Larmans believes he can never neglect. He needs a spacious desk, a fine typewriter, and, above all, official commercial stationery. Although he doesn't have a specific place to send it yet, the stationery must be of great dignity. Realizing that he cannot simply write his name on it and send it, he understands that a company name is also necessary and immerses himself in the task of naming it. A name that exudes a distinctly modern vibe while also preparing for the future… Once he decides to start a business, Larmans seems to have already become a different person.

Korean title: 9990개의 치즈

Korean author: 빌렘 엘스호트

Korean publisher: 열린책들

ISBN-13: 9788932917184