A Decade-Long Literary Commitment
Adrian Chiles recently reached the end of a long, sporadic struggle: finishing Rebecca West’s "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon." The book, first published in 1941, clocks in at roughly half a million words. While not as long as Tolstoy’s "War and Peace," its physical presence is undeniable. Chiles’s paperback edition weighs 1,271 grams. He spent over 10 years on this task, moving through the text in fits and starts.
His approach to literature has changed over time. As a younger student, Chiles gravitated toward authors with thin bibliographies. He avoided long novels, prioritizing brevity for its own sake. The pivot to massive volumes became a personal penance for his earlier preference for slim collections of poetry or short stories. Now, he views the effort of reading a doorstopper as comparable to training for a marathon.
The Value of the Journey
West’s work functions as both a travelogue and a deep dive into the history of Yugoslavia. Chiles found that the process of reading it echoed the experience of hearing a complex piece of experimental music. The long, repetitive stretches are occasionally punctuated by moments of clarity. These highlights make the slog worth the time, he notes.
He specifically points to West’s observation about cultural differences. She writes that some people try to make life better by adding good things, while others, primarily in the West, focus on removing bad things. Another standout observation for Chiles involves West’s description of a police chief. She notes he had a face so tough that one could play darts on it. These sharp, specific images ground the dense historical analysis.
Closing the Book
Finishing a text of this size provides a sense of relief similar to crossing a finish line. The labor fades, but the impact of the content remains. West herself addressed the daunting nature of the book within its own pages, acknowledging that its length would deter most readers. Chiles feels vindicated by reaching the end.
This personal accomplishment underscores a broader trend in literary appreciation. Readers often seek out challenging, lengthy works to contrast with the constant barrage of digital consumption. Engaging with a 1,271-gram book requires a different kind of patience than the modern habit of skimming short-form content. Whether or not West’s work becomes a standard for the average reader, it remains a distinct milestone for those who complete it.