"Workers on Break" young '10
William Trevor
The writer William Trevor died recently. He was regarded as one of the greatest short story writers. Born in Ireland. He wrote about marginalized members of society who created alternatives worlds to help deal with the reality of their lives. His work included: After Rain, Beyond the Pale, and Outside Ireland short story collections. Perhaps what impressed me the most about his life and work was an interview he had in the Paris Review in 1989. He talked about how circumstances and the accident of birth left him on “the edges of life,” often making it difficult to fit in. During his life he tried everything from chicken farming to advertising copy work before he found his voice as a writer. He felt that being apart from the main stream of life and somewhat of a loner had its advantages. It allowed one to develop “the art of the glimpse” into other peoples lives without being pulled in. From that viewpoint, one could make a story and life. While not as talented an artist or writer as Trevor, I too have found special gifts and experiences from observing life from the edges. Still, at times, I have wanted to be more a part of things and remember the loneliness of not.
“The past has no belongings. The past does not obligingly absorb what is not wanted.”