ALAN HOLLINGHURST OR THE MODERN NARCISSUS

An author, who couldn't write

about working-class or lower middle-class

characters even if his life would depend on it.

We could be reminded of John Fowles'

whine, how he himself wanted to write

about people of his own class.

We could, but we know how it is:

Lack of knowledge

and lack of interest

towards everybody who

isn't like them - the majority -

and their lives and experiences,

Yet they expect the majority

to pay to read their books. The

single book that Alan Hollinghurst

has been writing his entire career

about the same single character

whose same experiences he clones

with endless vigour. There is

pathological belief that this

one subject Matters to All:

The university educated, artistic,

white gay man from upper middle-class

and his out-of-proportion disappointments.

Yes, we know Alan - its you.

All of you protagonists are you.

We know that is the extent of your talent.

You can look away

from your reflection now

- try to remember Narcissus' fate.

24.10.2017