The story "Melancholia" - the first English text by Gerard Reve - caused dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Culture of the Netherlands. Officials considered the masturbation scene obscene and denied Reva a scholarship for a trip abroad. As a sign of protest, the writer announced his decision to emigrate. He spent several years in London. The collection “Melancholia” contains works by Reve written in England.

“They will catch me,” he whispered, “they will catch me.” Here you are, dear Andre. You behaved very badly. “We’ll drag you off the cabinet by your feet,” he said silently, moving only his lips. Andre vividly imagined the scene of the capture. They will laugh and drag him down by the legs, twist his arms behind his back, force him to bend over, and kick him between his legs. They will tie him up and burn his neck and other exposed parts of his body with cigarette butts. He put his mouth on the hand he was leaning on and bit it hard. It seemed as if nothing could be heard except the rattling closet. “A lead cloak,” he whispered, breathless, “a light lead cloak.”