Harry Mulisch wrote The Assault in 1982, but across it's time line, it's largely set in post-WWII Netherlands. The book's time line is brilliant, flashing backward through the memories of multiple characters piecing together the unseen opening event of the story. But the book is largely dialog, and in keeping the dialog realistic, laid back on the prose in much of the text.
"Everything is forgotten in the end. the shouting dies down, the waves subside, the streets empty, and all is silence once more... With a quick gesture he tosses his straight graying hair, dragging his feet a bit, as if each step raised clouds of ashes, although there are no ashes in sight."
Though there are absolutely glowing sections such as the above...
