Novels by Paul De Kock Vol. XIX The Bashful Lover

Novels of Paul De Kock Vol. XIX: The bashful lover explores the quiet vulnerabilities that accompany affection delayed by pride, time, and social ritual. The story begins with a marriage that defies youthful convention, drawing attention not to the novelty of age, but to the quiet persistence of long-harbored emotion. Beneath the humor of an older groom and his measured bride lies a reflection on companionship chosen after hesitation, and on how maturity reshapes the expectations once tied to romance. The wedding, while festive, serves as a moment of reckoning for both characters, whose history together is marked by years of restraint and deferred commitment. With gentle satire and attention to social perception, the narrative probes how public celebration often masks private reflection, particularly for those who are no longer young. Their union raises questions not of scandal but of sincerity, suggesting that love's endurance over decades may offer a form of intimacy untouched by youthful haste. The novel subtly critiques societal assumptions about age and desire through charm and introspection.