The Mailer Review/Volume 13, 2019/The Last Night: A Story: Difference between revisions
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Maybe, it is appropriate to conclude with a piece of prophetic fiction. Assume | Maybe, it is appropriate to conclude with a piece of prophetic fiction. Assume then that the errors in reasoning and/or judgement you have detected for yourself in these pages are equaled only by the numerous errors you failed to detect. That, scientist and friends, is bound to be the measure of the error in the next prophecy. | ||
then that the errors in reasoning and/or judgement you have detected for yourself | |||
in these pages are equaled only by the numerous errors you failed to detect. | |||
That, scientist and friends, is bound to be the measure of the error in the next | |||
prophecy. | |||
The story was written in 1962, therefore was written with the idea of a President | The story was written in 1962, therefore was written with the idea of a President not altogether different from John F. Kennedy. L.B.J., needless to say, is altogether different. Go back, if you would go forward in time. | ||
not altogether different from John F. Kennedy. L.B.J., needless to say, is altogether | |||
different. Go back, if you would go forward in time. | |||
The original prefactory note is also reprinted. It may help to elucidate the style. | The original prefactory note is also reprinted. It may help to elucidate the style. | ||
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maybe in love with him,” is barely acceptable. An actor on contract could probably | maybe in love with him,” is barely acceptable. An actor on contract could probably | ||
manage to register that emotion in a closeup. Whereas, | manage to register that emotion in a closeup. Whereas, | ||
<blockquote>. . . the little phrase, as soon as it struck his ear, had the power to liberate | <blockquote>. . . the little phrase, as soon as it struck his ear, had the power to liberate in him the room that was needed to contain it; the proportions of Swann’s soul were altered; a margin was left for a form of enjoyment which corresponded no more than his love for Odette to any external object, and yet was not, like his enjoyment of that love, purely individual, but assumed for him an objective reality superior to that of other concrete things,</blockquote> | ||
in him the room that was needed to contain it; the proportions | |||
of Swann’s soul were altered; a margin was left for a form of enjoyment | |||
which corresponded no more than his love for Odette to any | |||
external object, and yet was not, like his enjoyment of that love, | |||
purely individual, but assumed for him an objective reality superior | |||
to that of other concrete things,</blockquote> | |||
would bake the clay of a producer’s face a little closer to stone. A producer is interested | would bake the clay of a producer’s face a little closer to stone. A producer is interested | ||
in the meat and bone of a story. His question as he reads a treatment | in the meat and bone of a story. His question as he reads a treatment |