Elise Schmit's New Short Story Collection Explores Existential Crises

Luxembourgish author Elise Schmit has released a new collection of short stories titled 'General Doubts about the Further Course,' which delves into the existential struggles of its characters. The review highlights Schmit's mastery of concise, impactful narrative, a skill that previously earned her the Luxembourg Prix Servais in 2019. A central story, 'Things in the Deep,' examines the complex dynamics between two cousins, Marisol and Camino, whose friendship is disrupted by Josien, a quiet Dutch woman who moves into their Amsterdam apartment. This arrangement spirals into a tragic, non-sexual love triangle, culminating in a somber scene featuring a dismantled whale on a Belgian beach. Interwoven with these narratives is a recurring motif of a woman isolating herself, feeding a small bird with expensive tangerines bought with rent money, symbolizing growing dependency and societal disconnection. The collection portrays individuals grappling with internal and external pressures, using stark imagery to reflect a world that feels increasingly unstable. Published by Luchterhand, the 304-page hardcover offers a poignant look at human vulnerability and the fragility of relationships in modern life.