Do you forget things? I do, more and more. My ailing, failing memory was sorely tested the other day. 'Do you remember who won the Grand National?' I was asked. Of course I did. It was the most exciting race for years, won right at the post by ... Then came the blank. I'd sat and watched the race, goddam it, but the winner still eluded me, just as it had at the time. By the same token, quiz me about last summer's cricket and my response would be sketchy at best. However, I'm of the school that believes it doesn't matter if you forget facts providing you know where you can lay hands on them when needed. I found the result of the Grand National in a pile of old newspapers.[*] Last summer? Well, that problem was solved last week when the Gospel according to St John, all 1300 pages of it, beat the dust out of the doormat.

LRB 23 May 1985 | PDF Download