Symbols and Signs

Symbols and Signs

For the fourth time in as many years, they were confronted with the problem of what birthday present to take to a young man who was incurably deranged in his mind. Desires he had none. Man-made objects were to him either hives of evil, vibrant with a malignant...
Pale Fire

Pale Fire

The following note is not an apology of suicide – it is the simple and sober description of a spiritual situation. The more lucid and overwhelming one’s belief in Providence, the greater the temptation to get it over with, this business of life, but the greater too...
Pale Fire

Pale Fire

Teach. Examine literary masterpieces with brilliant and charming young people. A hobby he could now freely indulge. ‘And, of course, I don’t know,’ she mumbled looking away, ‘I don’t know but perhaps if you’d have nothing against it, I might...
Pale Fire

Pale Fire

Consuming something that had been handled by a fellow creature was, I explained to the rubicund convives, as repulsive to me as eating any creature, and that would include – lowering my voice – the pulpous pony-tailed girl student who served us and licked...