“The kind of truth that can be asserted by argument had lost all glamour, all lustre, for him, seeming now more now than another of that ancient urge—much older than the desire for truth—to command attention, dominate one’s fellows.”
From volume VI of the file · Book · 20th century
Themes: reason & truth
More from Barry Unsworth
“His life was a pool not so easy to fish in.”
“‘Funny ting,’ he said. ‘Dey talk bout real worl’, dey never mean real worl’ where man help adder man or spend him life do good for people, de allus mean real worl’ like rat in de cellar or dung-heap cock try git on top.”
“There was a smell of wood smoke and he could hear the voices of children, happy-angry, in the distance. It was a world, and it was precious to him.”