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Review [published June 2001]
David Markson: This Is Not A Novel
Stephen Mitchelmore
There’s always someone telling us that the novel is
dead. And that is how it should be. As well as offering
us the chance to laugh at the fools who parrot this
announcement, it makes us ask, for the umpteenth
time: what is the novel for, exactly? The question
should not be answered without referring to a novel in
particular. Each novel is unique. Or should be. We’ll
come to that later.
One of the reasons why cultural commentators,
such as the BBC’s Andrew Marr, proclaim the death
of the novel is because novels have become irredeemably
classifiable. Novels that break the rules seem to
be so mannered, so distant from the world we call
real, that they demand to be classified as frivolous
and elitist. Most of them are. And they seem all the
more mannered and distant because the classifiable
novel has become so refined, so intimate with the
deceit of language, that we do not see them for the
very odd objects they really are. Instead, by effacing
themselves in a whole raft of technique, they enable
the reader-as-consumer to bypass any doubts and leap
straight into what is desired: distraction.
BUY David Markson books online from and
The literary novel, on the other hand, is definitively
unclassifiable. Or should be. Hence the regular asking
of the question: “Why are detective stories/thrillers/
horror novels/science fictions ignored when it comes to
literary prizes?” The accusation that always follows is
that these prizes are for highbrow snobs. In a recent radio
interview, the question and accusation was repeated
by horror novel writer (and TV presenter) Muriel Gray.
As I listened in a departure lounge filled with airportnovel
clutching passengers, I wanted to shout: THERE
IS GOOD REASON! But I kept my dignity. Until now.
The reason is because the novel has to reinvent itself,
each and every time. When a reinvention is achieved,
it deserves recognition. One cannot use the crutch of
a genre, the alibi of a genre, and expect to receive an
award specifically intended for a unique achievement.
Muriel Gray’s horror novels have received critical acclaim
by those who know about such things; Stephen
King no less. Worth checking out then. But you can’t
have it both ways Muriel.
In the same interview Gray says she hates writing but
loves having written. I suggest this maybe due to her
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