The Dutch writer Louis Couperus (1863‑1923) is considered today as one of the most prominent novelists of the fin de siècle. He made his name with realist novels such as Eline Vere (1889) and Small Souls (1901‑1903). Some of his works raised indignant criticism because of their overt presentation of sexuality – including homosexuality – for example the Indian novel The Hidden Force (1900) and the historical novel The Mountain of Light (1905). For this reason The Mountain of Light, unlike several of his other works, was never translated into English. Couperus is considered exemplary of the fin-de-siècle aesthetics.

In January 1915, Louis Couperus requested a special travel visa from the Dutch consul in Florence. Having lived for fifteen years in the south of France and Italy, he wanted to return to the Netherlands. Due to the rise of nationalism during the First World War, he and his wife felt less and less welcome in their beloved Italy. The war depressed Couperus and more importantly, the absence of a regular postal service prevented him from sending his weekly columns – his most important source of income – back to the Netherlands. He therefore decided to return to the city of his birth: The Hague.

Back in The Hague in February 1915, he not only returned to his warm and loving family, but was enthusiastically welcomed by the general reading public as well. He quickly discovered that, during his long absence abroad, he had become a celebrity at home. However, it was not only his work, but also his whole personality that attracted public interest. To his great surprise he was quite suddenly the famous – and somewhat notorious – writer Louis Couperus. He now found himself recognized by strangers in the street, whilst during the time that he lived in Italy and France he was simply a distinguished gentleman. He was a long, slim, dark, carefully dressed, somewhat effeminate man with slightly oriental looks. His voice and gestures were mannered, but at the same time natural. In general he came across as an aesthetic aristocrat.

Couperus's homecoming generated considerable public attention, even before his return the author had established a public image.