The State of the Novel

The State of the Novel (6)

The Novel Takes It Back a Notch

My husband was passing Rachael the mashed potatoes when The Novel announced he was going on a diet, producing an awkward silence during which both my husband and Rachael held the bowl of potatoes…

The State of the Novel (1)

The Novel Arrives

From our butter and eggs man I learned The Novel had registered at Pension Beatrix, but it wasn’t until Sunday that I met him on his way to service. He reminded me of my Uncle Eric: a little stooped, with a reliable pace. He…

The State of the Novel (2)

The Novel Comes to Dinner

Gathering for pre-dinner drinks in the Melville Room, The Novel arrived early and nearly finished a decanter of port alone.

The State of the Novel (5)

The Novel Calls in Sick

The Novel swam in the river too early in the season and developed a chest cold.

Honestly, he said, it wasn’t a true swim. More of a dip. A plunge. A thorough splashing and wetting down.

The State of the Novel (3)

The Novel Comforts the Household Pet

Our dog was old and stiff, so The Novel visited and lay on the floor with her, running his open palm over her length, singing, mysweetmysweetmysweetiepieoldpuppydog.

Welcome to the Archives

This way. You think: he keeps saying, this way. Would you follow me otherwise?

Make a study of that, sir.

Interesting procedures here. We don’t bring the files to you, we bring you to the files. That may have been the first director’s…

The State of the Novel (4)

The Novel Heals the Sick

During Johnny’s illness The Novel read him Laura Ingalls Wilder books and sang songs of the French countryside. The maid brought tea when his voice began to tire.

The State of the Novel (8)

The End of the Novel

I rang Pension Beatrix and was informed The Novel had paid his bill and left by taxi for the train station. He left no messages or forwarding address.

The State of the Novel (7)

The Novel Behaves Heroically

The night the Hotel Stillwater burned down The Novel was returning from a soiree at the Davidson’s on McGuffin Avenue. For his supper he had recited The Cremation of Sam McGee, a performance that won the…