Read Online The Museum of Literary Souls (A Short Story) by John Connolly - Free Book Online

devoted to Tolstoy’s works, familiarizing himself with the history of Anna
Karenina . His researches revealed that even this novel, described as
“flawless” by both Dostoevsky and Nabokov, presented problems when it came to
its earliest appearance. While it was originally published in installments in
the Russian Messenger periodical from 1873 onward, an editorial dispute
over the final part of the story meant that it did not appear in its complete
form until the first publication of the work as a book in 1878. The library
held both the periodical version and the Russian first edition, but
Mr. Berger’s knowledge of Russian was limited, to put it mildly, and he
didn’t think that it would be a good idea to go messing around with it in its
original language. He decided that the library’s first English-language
edition, published by Thomas Y. Crowell Co. of New York in 1886, would probably
be sufficient for his needs.
    The weeks and months went by, but still he did not act. Not
only was he afraid to put in place a plan that involved tinkering with one of
the greatest works of literature in any language, but Mr. Gedeon was a
perpetual presence in the library. He had not yet entrusted Mr. Berger with his
own key, and he still kept a careful eye on his visitor. Meanwhile, Mr. Berger
noticed that Anna was becoming increasingly agitated, and in the middle of
their discussions of books and music or their occasional games of whist or
poker, she would grow suddenly distant and whisper the names of her children or
her lover. She was also, he thought, taking an unhealthy interest in certain
railway timetables.
    Finally, fate presented him with the opportunity he had been
seeking. Mr. Gedeon’s brother in Bootle was taken seriously ill, and his
departure from this earth was said to be imminent. Mr. Gedeon was forced to
leave in a hurry if he was to see his brother again before he passed away, and,
with only the faintest of hesitations, he entrusted the care of Caxton Private
Lending Library & Book Depository to Mr. Berger. He left Mr. Berger with
the keys and the number of Mr. Gedeon’s sister-in-law in Bootle in case of
emergencies, then rushed off to catch the last evening train north.
    Alone for the first time in the library, Mr. Berger opened
the suitcase that he had packed upon receiving the summons from Mr. Berger. He
removed from it a bottle of brandy and his favorite fountain pen. He poured
himself a large snifter of brandy—larger than was probably advisable, he would
later accept—and retrieved the Crowell edition of Anna Karenina from its
shelf. He laid it on Mr. Gedeon’s desk and turned to the relevant section. He
took a sip of brandy, then another, and another. He was, after all, about to
alter one of the great works of literature, so a stiff drink seemed like a very
good idea.
    He looked at the glass. It was now almost empty. He refilled
it, took another strengthening swig, and uncapped his pen. He offered a silent
prayer of apology to the God of Letters, and with three swift dashes of his pen
removed a single paragraph.
    It was done.
    He took another drink. It had been easier than expected. He
let the ink dry on the Crowell edition and restored it to its shelf. He was by
now more than a little tipsy. Another title caught his eye as he returned to
the desk: Tess of the d’Urbervilles , by Thomas Hardy, in the first
edition by Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., London, 1891. Mr. Berger had always hated
the ending of Tess of the d’Urbervilles .
    Oh well, he thought: in for a penny, in for a pound.
    He took the book from the shelf, stuck it under his arm, and
was soon happily at work on Chapters LVIII and LIX. He worked all through the
night, and by the time he fell asleep the bottle of brandy was empty, and he
was surrounded by books.
    In truth, Mr. Berger had gotten a little carried away.

CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
    In the history of Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository, the
brief period that followed Mr.