Indeed an incredible book. Aside from The Illuminatus trilogy, I've never read anything that has so shaken my position as the reader of a book, that is to say, the reality in which I am experiencing the book. The idea of a protagonist having a less than coherent grasp on reality has been popularised in film in the last decade or so, Fight Club, Spider, Memento, but I personally, have not come across it in literature. Not that I read a lot of books, but I was amazed that someone I had somewhat haphazardly categorised as a drugged out musical and poetic genius, was also such a brilliant author, an artist that paints a mindscape with words.
Serious spoiler below. I fyou haven't read the book, DO NOT READ ON. Let me end by simply recommending this book in every way, and keep a dictionary handy for much antiquated literary type language.
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From what I recall, there was the girl, the queen, the unattainable beauty whom he would venture into the town to observe. I really don't remember details, but I think in the end he kidnaps her and takes her out to his den in the swamp. His shack is destroyed by the town folk and all manner of decayed and tortured animal is discovered. They are after him, and he is lost, in more ways than one. I really wish I could find my copy of the book to refresh my memory, but I think she dies, but her legacy lives on, in that she was pregnant, and the child survives. My interpretation being he raped her without knowing it and, well, I don't remember all that much.
If you've read the book, please share your interpretation of the ending, and refresh my memory of the basic plot twists.
I really need to work out who borrowed my copy...
