The Uses Of Literacy

[poliphilo]

Patrick Melrose hides his fear of almost everything behind a mask of contempt for almost everything. In "real life" I'd avoid spending time in his company (because apart from everything else he'd be horribly if wittily rude to me) but as a character in a novel I find him fascinating.

This is one of the uses of fiction: it introduces us to people we would never otherwise encounter- and even takes us inside their heads. It's no substitute for direct, living experience but serves as a valuable supplement.