Коллекционер
Chapter 2
Iknowit’spathetic,Iknowhe’savictimofamiserableNonconformistsuburbanworldandamiserablesocialclass,thehorridtimidcopycattinggenteelin-betweenclass.IusedtothinkDandM’sclasstheworst.Allgolfandginandbridgeandcarsandtherightaccentandtherightmoneyandhavingbeentotherightschoolandhatingthearts(thetheatrebeingapantomimeatChristmasandHayFeverbytheTownRep—PicassoandBartokdirtywordsunlessyouwantedtogetalaugh).Well,thatisfoul.ButCaliban’sEnglandisfouler.
Itmakesmesick,theblindness,deadness,out-of-dateness,stodginessand,yes,sheerjealousmaliceofthegreatbulkofEngland.
G.P.talksabouttheParisrat.NotbeingabletofaceEnglandanymore.Icanunderstandthatsowell.ThefeelingthatEnglandstiflesandsmothersandcrusheslikeasteamrollerovereverythingfreshandgreenandoriginal.Andthat’swhatcausestragicfailureslikeMatthewSmithandAugustusJohn—they’vedonetheParisratandtheyliveeverafterintheshadowofGauguinandMatisseorwhoeveritmaybe—justasG.P.saysheoncelivedundertheshadowofBraqueandsuddenlywokeuponemorningtorealizethatallhehaddoneforfiveyearswasalie,becauseitwasbasedonBraque’seyesandsensibilitiesandnothisown.
Photography.
It’sallbecausethere’ssolittlehopeinEnglandthatyouhavetoturntoParis,orsomewhereabroad.
