This picaresque, modern novel recounts the adventures of two young men, John and David, whose mission is to annihilate Hitler before he puts his evil plans into practice. Whether as dandies, art merchants or gamblers – but always surrounded by women – our heroes crisscross Europe, from Trieste to Vienna, London to Vilnius. They spend time in luxury hotels and in prisons; meet Freud, Joyce, Wittgenstein, Musil and Spielberg.

Bart, a master of the art of the pastiche, brings us a veritable festival of the droll, sometimes bordering on the absurd or grotesque.