"Scum is a masterfully written book in which Williams, by means of a particularly effective form of fragmentation of language, captures the disjunctive experience of a terrified boy. The life of the boy and the life of the sentences are lived entirely in the collision of the will to survive and the impossible demands of an incomprehensible, utterly senseless reality. There are no happy endings in Williams’ books, but far more valuable is the vitality that is generated in his deft and original use of language." -- Thomas Ogden "In the elliptical prose of Scum, Paul Williams captures exactly the darting, panic-stricken mentation of the unloved, unlovely adolescent who was once himself. By great good luck this boy is led to France, where as he falls into step with the peaceful rhythms of everyday French life he begins to discover his own humanity. An impressive continuation of Williams' life story." - J.M.Coetzee Table of Contents: CHAPTER ONE: Onward and upward CHAPTER TWO: Out cold CHAPTER THREE: Jackinboxghost CHAPTER FOUR: Parentheses CHAPTER FIVE: All very modest dentists must not eat spinach after portions of rhubarb tart CHAPTER SIX: Night fall CHAPTER SEVEN: Halcyon days CHAPTER EIGHT: Social conscience CHAPTER NINE: Worlds apart CHAPTER TEN: Nursing home CHAPTER ELEVEN: End for no end
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