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In Mantissa (1982), a novelist awakes in the hospital with amnesia -- and comes to believe that a beautiful female doctor is, in fact, his muse.
A novelist awakens in a hospital bed with no memory of his identity, only to find himself locked in a surreal, escalating power struggle with a woman who claims to be his doctor and muse. The protagonist, Miles Green, attempts to assert control over his reality and his creative output, while the enigmatic Dr. Delfie acts as both his caretaker and his tormentor. The narrative operates as a claustrophobic, single-room drama that constantly shifts its own rules, blurring the line between the author's internal creative process and the external world. Through a series of rapid-fire dialogues and shifting personas, the text examines the volatile relationship between the creator and the source of their inspiration.
This work is often analyzed as a self-reflexive exercise that highlights the author's preoccupation with the mechanics of storytelling. The narrative's playful yet biting tone suggests a deliberate attempt to deconstruct the traditional relationship between a writer and their creative impulses. Readers and critics frequently note the book's dense, intellectual humor and its refusal to provide a stable, objective reality for the protagonist. The text serves as a challenging exploration of the creative ego, inviting readers to navigate a labyrinth of shifting identities and literary artifice.
Page Count:
195
Publication Date:
1982-01-01
Publisher:
Collins
ISBN-10:
0002226286
ISBN-13:
9780002226288
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