Infallible
Infallible (original title: De Onfeilbare) is a literary novel published in Dutch by Balans Publishing.
What does identity mean in a world where truth has lost its absolute value? Where real life is no longer distinguishable from fiction?
Infallible is the story of Amber, a keen and curious girl from Amsterdam, filled with open-eyed expectations. In Paris, she meets the thrilling persona of Cleo, and a force pulls them together: Cleo the infallible, Amber the ambitious.
Together they set off for New York where Cleo’s charms prevail over every obstacle the city has in store for them. Cleo encourages Amber to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a photographer, but as Amber’s dream is being realized, it is also undermined. Slowly she unmasks her friend and mentor to be a master of deception.
When Amber discovers a shocking secret behind their success, she returns to Amsterdam alone. But she is lost without Cleo’s charms and doesn’t understand why she should condemn Cleo’s lies when it has brought them so many benefits. Amber tries to reunite their lives, but during her absence Cleo’s fate has taken a tragic turn. All along, it was Amber’s unconditional love that made Cleo infallible.
Infallible is the story of two women lost in an intense and mysterious friendship, and what might happen when such a friendship unravels into illusions and lies.
Acclaim for Infallible
- “Once I picked up Infallible I couldn’t put it down. I read it in one breath. Why was it so enthralling? Two incredible main characters—both mysterious yet with a strange familiarity.” Henk Pröpper, Director of the Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature.
- “Infallible is an admirable achievement. Polders’ first novel is an intriguing, serious and ambitious work… everything a great debut is supposed to be.” Leidsch Dagblad.
- “Polders knows how to kidnap the reader’s attention!” Biblion
—> Following the success of Infallible, Claire was selected by Annelies Verbeke and Prometheus Publishing as one of the 25 most promising writers under 35 and asked to contribute a short story to their once-in-a-decade anthology.
For translation and film rights inquiries, please contact the author directly at cp(at)clairepolders(dot)com.