“Mother and Son” is a confessional and paradoxical novel by the famous Dutch writer Gerard Reve (1923–2006), known to Russian readers for the books “Honey Boys” and “On the Road to the End.” The mother is the Holy Virgin Mary, and the son - Reve himself. The writer talks about his interest in the Catholic Church, which began in his youth and, ultimately, about being baptized. According to Rewe, such an outcome was inevitable, although it went against his communist upbringing and his open homosexuality. The only obstacle that Reva had to overcome in order to be accepted into the bosom of the church was his aversion to Catholics. On the pages of the book, Reve seeks not only spiritual unity with the Virgin Mary, but also a carnal union with an ideal partner - a young station porter, whom he christened the Sailor. Dreaming of a new meeting with Sailor, the author does not forget about other “dear boys.”