Under the False Heaven

In The False Heaven, Lancar Ida-Bagus tells the poignant story of Hans, a Dutch man searching for love and meaning, and Maricel, a young woman from the Philippines dreaming of a better life. Their worlds come together in an idyllic relationship, but soon ideals and reality turn out to be miles apart. Between hope and disappointment unfolds a psychologically and spiritually charged story about cultural misunderstandings, inner struggles, and the question of what true love means. With keen observations and compassion, the author unravels the dynamics of inequality, power, and self-deception. The False Heaven is no romantic fairy tale, but an honest and confronting novel about the gap between desire and reality, and about the courage to free yourself from illusions.