What's the Name of That Book??? discussion
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Relation of My Imprisonment
SOLVED: Adult Fiction
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imprisoned coffin-maker - SOLVED - 'The Relation of My Imprisonment' [s]
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This sounds very much like The Relation of My Imprisonment, though Russell Banks is not completely obscure.Google Books is searchable but the summary is not very good; this review may be more helpful in determining if it is the correct book.
Hurrah! That has got to be it. Couldn't be anything else. I'm-a mark this mystery, 'solved'. Russell Banks? Hmmm, not a name I've ever heard of. I'll be happy to make myself familiar with his output.
Anyway, you really saved the day, mister. I congratulate you on your perspicacity, your knowledge of fiction, and thank you for rendering me this stellar bit of assistance!
Banks isn't famous, exactly, just one of those authors who flirts with fame from time to time. I had only heard of him before because Cloudsplitter was nominated for a Pulitzer.Anyway, glad I could help.
It doesn't fit any traditional genres and its not by an author who became--or ever was--famous; but he did apparently like to work repeatedly with 'oddball' premises. Certainly, the title that I encountered from him (whoever it was) was not designed to appeal to most mainstream readers. It was esoteric and almost, abstract. The story is 'realistic' in terms of its human psychology; but not realistic at all in terms of its trappings; the story elements. I don't know how the author convinced a publisher to back this unless he was some 'new fiction-writer-on-the-scene'; briefly-in-vogue; something like that.
The setting was a nameless foreign country--perhaps eastern Europe--very dark, gloomy, cold, harsh and sterile. It is not set in any one timeperiod vs any other. The way it is told; the narrative could be somewhere in the far future, or somewhere in the distant past. It doesn't matter because the elements of the story: prison, guards, inmates --could be any time. The style is quite a bit like Franz Kafka.
Story: a nameless coffin-maker (or 'cooper') has been unexpectedly arrested, convicted, and thrown in a penitentiary. I can't recall what for--it may be that he has killed his 2nd wife, I seem to think.
Anyway he wages a case for his own release but as his imprisonment wears on; and as he has no means of real support from friends--he despairs. Briefly, he tries to convince the authorities that the usefulness of his calling should grant him a reprieve or light sentence; but to no avail. Sooner or later he is bound to be executed.
Now here is where his real character comes out. The man is possessed of a fierce, almost Buddhist-like intensity when it comes to the topic of meeting his own death. Much of the book is taken up with his thoughts and beliefs as to how his death should be conducted. He is unafraid; he sees it as a thing a man should be thoroughly involved in.
The book is told in 1st person singular as he grapples with the ever-increasing imprisonment; as he tries to keep focused on the imminence of his own death. It could come at any time, and he insists on 'being ready'. Death does not trouble him; rather; its living in an "unfocused manner" which he finds difficult. There is one sequence where his first wife is allowed to visit him conjugally; and he shares her with his gaolers; even having little parties in the cell. Eventually he snaps out of this, cursing himself for relaxing when his last hours are so near.
Oh yes--by the way. He also is obsessed with the idea of being allowed to make his own coffin. Most of the novel is about the lavish care he expends on this task. Its his sole spiritual happiness; knowing that he himself is in charge of his own coffin; the only thing left to him which he *can* be in control of.
So its a pretty dismal book, all in all. Coffin-making. Anyway I'd really like to get the title. Thanks!