Philipp, known as Pitt, is secretive and ironic, and nothing really excites him. His younger brother Fox, a fat, vain boy, boasts all the time and thinks he is destined for a great future. Sons of a small-town manufacturer, the two brothers go off to study and meet very different young women: a pianist from a good family, a future schoolmistress, the daughter of a rich banker.
A subtle and slightly melancholy comedy about two opposite characters, and about their ways of loving.
Its ironic tone makes it an enjoyable read in the language you are learning.
