Some Trick

by Helen DeWitt

‘I have nothing to give you but that’s all right because Knowledge of lack is possession Recognised absence is presence Perceived emptiness plenitude. To have not And know it Is to have.’

If a garment quietly clothes its owner while he speaks, this cannot be uncomplaining loyalty, it cannot be touching, because this is what garments do. (What else would it do? Walk off in a huff?) And yet there was a touching loyalty in the quiet uncomplaining persistence of the turtle on the dark green breast. It had been there and it was still there.

He would write a book in which people did not destroy the thing they loved.

Novelty disturbed Edward; he made an awkward remark or two about the old woman, was only happy when he had been reminded of one he saw years ago and could supply a polished little story for the occasion. Repetition disturbed Maria; it was like trying to play jazz with someone who has the sheet music for ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’’ and works it in whenever he can.

Theories of authorial absence, says Brian, tend to leave out the curious circumstance that the author is always there to pick up his cheque.

The money was the only thing there could be for them, and they’d never have anything else. He said Don’t get so you can’t have anything but money, Anya. You don’t want to be like Steve.