Cover

Praise

Praise for Richard Brautigan

‘One of the last of the beat generation, Brautigan’s frequently autobiographical work contains strikingly poignant childhood memories and even the occasional foray into magic realism – quite wonderful.’ The Times

‘The verbal humour and zany charm of the book remain quite irresistible.’ Daily Telegraph

‘A collection of what the Americans call short shorts, or sudden fiction, by a master of the art. Poignant and surreal and laugh-out-loud funny.’ Alan Spence, Scotsman

Often defies reality with complete success – an original and charming view of the world.’ J.G. Farrell, The Listener

‘He has such a lovely touch: a born writer – he can’t be dull.’ Maurice Wiggin, The Sunday Times

‘The verbal humour and zany charm of the book remain quite irresistible.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Brautigan gets you drunk on similes, knocks you out with exquisite turns of phrase and leaves you with an ending that hits the entire novel out of the ballpark. Amazing.’ Uncut

‘His writing manages to conjure up a feeling of relaxation and well-being, somehow existing in our reality without being touched by it. Easy to fall into and over far too soon. After reading this you’ll feel like you’ve been on holiday with a friend.’ Time Out

‘Charming … the stories have memorable or beautifully handled moments of observation.’ London Review of Books

Title Page

Contents

Introduction

Revenge of the Lawn

1692 Cotton Mather Newsreel

1/3, 1/3, 1/3

The Gathering of a Californian

A Short Story about Contemporary Life in California

Pacific Radio Fire

Elmira

Coffee

‘Rembrandt Creek’ and ‘Carthage Sink’

The Weather in San Francisco

Complicated Banking Problems

A High Building in Singapore

An Unlimited Supply of 35 Millimeter Film

The Scarlatti Tilt

The Wild Birds of Heaven

Winter Rug

Ernest Hemingway’s Typist

Homage to the San Francisco YMCA

The Pretty Office

A Need for Gardens

The Old Bus

The Ghost Children of Tacoma

Talk Show

I Was Trying to Describe You to Someone

Trick or Treating Down to the Sea in Ships

Blackberry Motorist

Thoreau Rubber Band

44:40

Perfect California Day

The Post Offices of Eastern Oregon

Pale Marble Movie

Partners

Getting to Know Each Other

A Short History of Oregon

A Long Time Ago People Decided to Live in America

A Short History of Religion in California

April in God-damn

One Afternoon in 1939

Corporal

Lint

A Complete History of Germany and Japan

The Auction

The Armoured Car

The Literary Life in California/1964

Banners of My Own Choosing

Fame in California/1964

Memory of a Girl

September California

A Study in California Flowers

The Betrayed Kingdom

Women When They Put Their Clothes on in the Morning

Hallowe’en in Denver

Atlantisburg

The View from the Dog Tower

Greyhound Tragedy

Crazy Old Women are Riding the Buses of America Today

The Correct Time

Holiday in Germany

Sand Castles

Forgiven

American Flag Decal

The World War I Los Angeles Aeroplane

Introduction