J. Berlef often simply only named Bernlef without a first name or even the initial, was a very productive writer. During the period from 1960 to 2012, he published two books per year. Bernlef was never considered a major writer, but he was a constant presence, with a considerable readership. A theme which often features in his work is forgetfulness, brain fog, mental blockage or the inability to see or realize things.

However, Paspoort in duplo is a somewhat different work. It was published in 1966. The theme of this relatively short novel is adultery. Some years earlier, the main character is the novel has had an adulterous relationship with a young woman. His wife feels neglected and sleeps with another man once. This makes her husband furious.

In some sense the novel is also compatible with Berlef's main themes in his work, namely the inability to see what is going on, and misunderstandings in relationships through lack of communication or "blindness" to the needs of the other. ( )