Read Online The Song Before It Is Sung by Justin Cartwright - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Justin Cartwright
Ads: Link
it is, he has deceived me and all
of us.'
There is reference to a letter from von Gottberg, trying to explain himself, but Mendel dismisses it: 'He always takes refuge
in generalities: "Europe must see that the true spirit of the German people is being subverted." Et cetera, et cetera.'
'Still, Elya, write to him. He loves you.'
'I will write to him, for your sake.'
He writes a conciliatory letter to von Gottberg, saying that he hopes and believes that they will always be friends, and that
he was probably unaware of all the circumstances surrounding the writing of the letter to the Guardian. But, Axel, you must know that what you wrote was foolish and — if not strictly interpreted — untrue, dangerous. It was not worthy of you. Please come and visit me in All Souls whenever you
can.
Conrad wonders if it is possible to read this letter as von Gottberg read it. They could both see that Europe's dark prejudices
were surfacing in Germany, but neither of them could have any idea of the horrors to come, because, given the stock of available
human experience, they were unimaginable.
When Elizabeth and Rosamund return from Germany, Rosamund writes to Mendel to break off their relationship. Mendel is heartbroken,
but grateful, so he tells friends, for the happiness she has given him. He is, of course, primarily grateful for the sexual
experience, previously a mystery to him. He cherishes it and husbands it.
Conrad wonders what happened in Germany. There is no sign in Mendel's papers that Rosamund met anybody else and her novel,
when it was published early the following year, was apparently a minor success, thought by The Times to display 'an amusing, if rather shallow understanding of the surface aspect of our times'. Mendel kept the cutting alongside
her letters. He wrote: Nothing has changed. In my present mood I am happy with this situation. I see ahead of me a long, enclosed tunnel of work.
Later there is a letter from Elizabeth saying that Rosamund has decided to return to Germany to oppose the rise of Nazism.
She will be sending reports back to the newspapers; her uncle is a proprietor. But there is no mention of Rosamund's feelings
for Mendel. He writes that he consoles himself with the knowledge that he was made for the contemplative life.
Conrad is sitting in the flat, now on the market. Without Francine's presence, he has noticed, it is deteriorating. He is
unable to control the remains of meals and dirty plates and crumpled bedclothes. He seems to cause seismic upheavals with
simple acts like opening a jar of coffee or looking for a book. Mendel's papers, which he is trying to put in some order,
are resisting, faithful to their progenitor's spirit; he was famously disorganised. The collected letters of E.A. Mendel are
far from collected. In fact they may be more dispersed than when he took delivery of them two and a half years ago. Many times
he has been warned - Francine has warned him - that they should be kept in safe storage. For the moment they are still in
hundreds of books and loose files of papers and seventeen cardboard boxes in what used to be his study but which has now become
an all-purpose room containing items of clothing, plates, books, newspapers and socks. He hadn't realised until Francine moved
out just how much stuff came through the letterbox every day. With her fear of chaos, she must have been up at dawn clearing
up. Or clearing up when she came in from a hard day in the hospital. He feels retrospective guilt. New pizza-delivery services
are multiplying, and working drivers with their own vans offer to move his possessions. Sometimes he looks at these flyers
and marvels at the grammar and spelling. Utility companies and phone suppliers and holiday companies are offering deals. Often
they come with mission statements. He understands that they are for mom and apple pie of course, but why are they issuing
these quasi-philosophical statements
of us.'
There is reference to a letter from von Gottberg, trying to explain himself, but Mendel dismisses it: 'He always takes refuge
in generalities: "Europe must see that the true spirit of the German people is being subverted." Et cetera, et cetera.'
'Still, Elya, write to him. He loves you.'
'I will write to him, for your sake.'
He writes a conciliatory letter to von Gottberg, saying that he hopes and believes that they will always be friends, and that
he was probably unaware of all the circumstances surrounding the writing of the letter to the Guardian. But, Axel, you must know that what you wrote was foolish and — if not strictly interpreted — untrue, dangerous. It was not worthy of you. Please come and visit me in All Souls whenever you
can.
Conrad wonders if it is possible to read this letter as von Gottberg read it. They could both see that Europe's dark prejudices
were surfacing in Germany, but neither of them could have any idea of the horrors to come, because, given the stock of available
human experience, they were unimaginable.
When Elizabeth and Rosamund return from Germany, Rosamund writes to Mendel to break off their relationship. Mendel is heartbroken,
but grateful, so he tells friends, for the happiness she has given him. He is, of course, primarily grateful for the sexual
experience, previously a mystery to him. He cherishes it and husbands it.
Conrad wonders what happened in Germany. There is no sign in Mendel's papers that Rosamund met anybody else and her novel,
when it was published early the following year, was apparently a minor success, thought by The Times to display 'an amusing, if rather shallow understanding of the surface aspect of our times'. Mendel kept the cutting alongside
her letters. He wrote: Nothing has changed. In my present mood I am happy with this situation. I see ahead of me a long, enclosed tunnel of work.
Later there is a letter from Elizabeth saying that Rosamund has decided to return to Germany to oppose the rise of Nazism.
She will be sending reports back to the newspapers; her uncle is a proprietor. But there is no mention of Rosamund's feelings
for Mendel. He writes that he consoles himself with the knowledge that he was made for the contemplative life.
Conrad is sitting in the flat, now on the market. Without Francine's presence, he has noticed, it is deteriorating. He is
unable to control the remains of meals and dirty plates and crumpled bedclothes. He seems to cause seismic upheavals with
simple acts like opening a jar of coffee or looking for a book. Mendel's papers, which he is trying to put in some order,
are resisting, faithful to their progenitor's spirit; he was famously disorganised. The collected letters of E.A. Mendel are
far from collected. In fact they may be more dispersed than when he took delivery of them two and a half years ago. Many times
he has been warned - Francine has warned him - that they should be kept in safe storage. For the moment they are still in
hundreds of books and loose files of papers and seventeen cardboard boxes in what used to be his study but which has now become
an all-purpose room containing items of clothing, plates, books, newspapers and socks. He hadn't realised until Francine moved
out just how much stuff came through the letterbox every day. With her fear of chaos, she must have been up at dawn clearing
up. Or clearing up when she came in from a hard day in the hospital. He feels retrospective guilt. New pizza-delivery services
are multiplying, and working drivers with their own vans offer to move his possessions. Sometimes he looks at these flyers
and marvels at the grammar and spelling. Utility companies and phone suppliers and holiday companies are offering deals. Often
they come with mission statements. He understands that they are for mom and apple pie of course, but why are they issuing
these quasi-philosophical statements
Similar Books
