Notes on "Five letters from an Eastern empire" by Alasdair Gray
This tiny book (just 50 pages, readable in an hour or so) is one of the most enjoyable and thrilling stories I have ever read.
It details the adventures of Bohu the poet as he travels to an opulent capital city, part of an obsolete society where bizarre rules of etiquette govern how thick the soles of your shoes are, and therefore how important you are.
Surrounded by his entourage of helpers, Bohu (raised from childhood to write a poem for the emporor) ponders his new surroundings and waits with excitement for the order to write a poem. When it comes, though, it destroys him.
I love the details in this story, the fabulous rich cultural setting that conjours up wonderful scenes in the imagination. It is a tale that both inspires imaginative thinking, and envy of anyone who could imagine such a story in the first place.
Of course the final section twists the story on its head, and the very last page delivers another unexpected turn of events. It made me smile with pleasure, even on the second and third reading.
If you can track down a copy of this book, it comes very highly recommended.
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