The Sunlight Dialogues

Description

Who is the Sunlight Man? Sheriff Fred Clumly is trying to unravel mysteries surrounding a drifter called ‘The Sunlight Man,” who is jailed for painting the word “LOVE” across two lanes of traffic in the small town of Batavia, New York, and later suspected of murder. Vivid, compassionate and often disturbing — with an astonishing cast of characters — this expansive novel is John Gardner’s masterpiece. [From the back cover.] Introduction ix List of Characters xix Prologue 1 I The Watchdog 5 II When the Exorcist Shall Go to the House of the Patient 59 III Lion Emerging from Cage 125 IV Mama 181 V Hunting Wild Asses 210 VI Esther 278 VII The Dialogue on Wood and Stone 305 VIII The Kleppmann File 335 IX “Like a robber, I shall proceed according to my will.” 362 X Poetry and Life 387 XI The Dialogue of Houses 406 XII A Mother’s Love 436 XIII Nah ist — und schwer zu fassen der Gott 458 XIV The Wilderness 494 XV The Dialogue of the Dead 517 XVI Love and Duty 548 XVII Benson versus Boyle XVIII The Dragon’s Dwelling-Place and the Court for Owls 577 XIX Workmen in a Quarry 590 XX Winged Figure Carrying Sacrificial Animal 625 XXI The Dialogue of Towers 639 XXII Luke 650 XXIII E silentio 658 XXIV Law and Order 683