Abstract

Scope and method of the work. This short-story cycle about a fictional contemporary character, an American artist named Quintilian Xavier Malone, traces much of his life in 21 episodic accounts which include an "Epilogue." Narrated through his own point of view and those of two of his friends, most of the stories are told from the point of view of Malone's friend, whose name is not disclosed, but who identifies himself in the first story, "Boots," as an aging hippie, and later as an attorney. "If Folks Knew" is narrated from the point of view of Malone's friend, the attorney, but mostly as an account of what an old-timer in Malone's hometown says about Malone. If not mythic--regarding the character, Malone--the episodes reflect attempts at allegory. Most of the settings are in the Southwest, and with one episode set in Monterrey, "Hotel, Mexico." ;Findings and conclusions. The work intends to evoke senses of faith and joy, as expressed in the "Preface"--faith in the prospects of human awareness, and joy in the prospect that life is a gift which includes some sort of saving grace, not without humor. Most of the discourse may be described as expressionistic. The work includes some interior monologues--for example, in "Unities," and "A Medal"--as well as descriptions in a number of the episodes, which rightly might be called something other than realistic. Reality, at times, is perceived as simply unreal. However, there is also a quality about the work which rings of tall tales--for example, "Boots," and the "Epilogue."