R: Henry and Cato (1976)

begun 17 aug 1974

1st draft finished 2 feb 1975

completed 15 oct 1975 (703 handwritten pages)

subtitle: A Tale of Two Prodigal Sons

She wants to use for the cover a painting belonging to Morton May, which is in a cupboard in the vaults of the Art Museum at St Louis.

78 unnumbered chapters

characters: 772,056
words: 140,489

[wikipedia] [goodreads] [editions/covers] [info]

IM was 57, married 20 years

spoiler-reviews: [dexter]

To Stephen Gardiner [wiki] b1924 [more]

 

 

 

 

 

Max Beckmann

 

 

trundle-tailed dog

Titian [R17]

Departure

Stephanie's brooch

kestrel

👨Henry Marshalson, 32yo, art prof, younger son of a wealthy landowner
🏎Sandy Marshalson, Henry's deceased elder brother
👵Gerda Marshalson, their mother
Laxlinden Hall, Marshalson family home
👳Cato Forbes, early thirties, priest
👧Colette Forbes, younger sister of Cato, dropout, loves Henry
👦Joseph 'Beautiful Joe' Beckett, 17yo outlaw, Cato's love
👴Lucius Lamb, poet living at Laxlinden Hall
🏩Stephanie Whitehouse, Sandy's 34yo mistress
Brendan Craddock, Cato's priest/friend, Joe's lover
👴📣John Forbes, Cato and Colette's father
Pennwood, Cato's father's house
 

R00: Part One RITES OF PASSAGE

R01: Cato Forbes had already crossed

R02: At about the hour when Cato Forbes was walking up and down in the mist on Hungerford Bridge, Henry Marshalson was awakening
bird-headed
R03: At about the hour when Cato Forbes was walking to and fro on Hungerford Bridge and Henry Marshalson was awakening from his first sleep on the jumbo jet high above the Atlantic, Gerda Marshalson

R04: An hour later Gerda was still sitting

R05: At about the hour when Cato Forbes was walking to and fro on Hungerford Bridge and Henry Marshalson was awakening from his first sleep on the jumbo jet high above the Atlantic and Gerda Marshalson and Lucius Lamb were in conference

R06: Cato Forbes, hidden underneath a black umbrella, was walking along Ladbroke Grove

R07: Henry Marshalson was standing so still

R08: 'Copper-bottomed?'

R09: 'Lucius, I do wish you wouldn't

R10: Soon thinking about himself

R11: Supposing one lacked the concept of suffering

R12: The chief reason why Hannibal succeeded

R13: The garden was darkening a little

R14: Gerda, standing at the windows

R15: The headlights of the yellow Volvo

R16: It was very dark and muddy in the lane

R17: 'That rich chap—'
Titian
R18: I wonder if Max ever saw that?

R19: Lucius, packing his suitcase, thought

R20: Gerda, looking from the terrace

R21: Henry, who had walked over

R22: Lucius puffed down the stairs with his suitcase

R23: Meanwhile upstairs harlequin Henry

R24: Constant employment was the rule at Pennwood

R25: Safe at home later

R26: John Forbes, going to bed

R27: 'I saw your kestrel again,'

R28: Gerda was standing in the ballroom

R29: Lucius was awake too

R30: 'Did you see any sign of a ring

R31: 'Colette—' 'Oh, Mrs Marshalson—'

R32: 'Oh, I'm so glad. I thought perhaps you wouldn't come

R33: 'I heard from Gerald Dealman,'

R34: Henry was standing on the terrace

R35: My dear Cato, I am sorry you went

R36: Henry was awake in the early morning

R37: 'This is the first time we've ever got drunk together

R38: 'Mother,' said Henry, 'may I introduce my fiancee

R39: Henry skipped along the hall

R40: Cato Forbes, looking around guiltily

R41: Dear Colette, I have got your sweet touching utterly ridiculous and dotty letter

R42: 'Careful,' said Henry, standing back

R43: 'Don't go on about it, Steph

R44: 'Give him his plate, and you go to bed

Part Two THE GREAT TEACHER

R45: 'It's a very little diamond

R46: 'How are you feeling, Father?'

R47: It was dark in the alleyway

R48: Gerda, dressed in her checkered blue and green robe

R49: Henry came through the front door like a whirlwind

R50: The darkness was total

R51: He had been asleep and woke

R52: Dear Henry, They want the rest of the money quick

R53: 'What is it?' said Gerda

R54: Henry was sitting at the big scrubbed kitchen table

R55: Awkwardly, dragging at her hair

R56: 'I've got to sleep,' said Henry

R57: Cato had been jerking the pipe to and fro

R58: The candle was burning on the shelf

R59: Cato had got up and was sitting on the bed

R60: 'By the way, I found those Landseer sketches

R61: 'Hello, Steph, I like your hat.'

R62: About fifteen minutes later Henry, having run

R63: 'I've never known anybody famous,' said Stephanie

R64: Henry rang the bell. A man opened the door.

R65: Twenty minutes later Henry was sitting

R66: 'I've decided to write my autobiography

R67: 'Do you mind if I sit with you, Mother?'

R68: 'Oh stop crying, Colette,' said John Forbes

R69: 'It's all fixed,' said Henry

R70: Henry was sitting on the bed

R71: Gerda, who had heard Henry's rapid descent

R72: Do you consider yourself to be sexually experienced?

R73: 'Your side looks higher, Bellamy

R74: 'Listen to the cuckoo.'

R75: 'Would you like the walnut cake?'

R76: A while later Lucius became conscious

R77: John Forbes was in bed

R78: 'You aren't taking any books?' said Cato.