Crome yellow

“Crome Yellow” by Aldous Huxley ; 1922

A young English poet, Denis Stone, is spending some time at Crome, an English estate and mansion of the Wimbush family. He is in love with Anne Wimbush, the niece of Henry Wimbush. The other guests include a few other writers, an artist, and it is in essence a small gathering of people who are also close friends. Denis has just started to write a novel. But he is going through a period of questioning himself as a writer. He is also unhappy that Anne does not love him. One particular evening he is feeling particularly miserable: “..........................Why had he climbed up to this high, desolate place? Was it to look at the moon? Was it to commit suicide? As yet he hardly knew. Death—the tears came into his eyes when he thought of it. His misery assumed a certain solemnity; he was lifted up on the wings of a kind of exaltation. It was a mood in which he might have done almost anything, however foolish. .." Denis's train of thoughts is interrupted by Mary, another guest. He confides in her and she suggests that perhaps he should return to London, on the excuse of urgent business. But the next day, as prepares to leave Crome, has anything been resolved ? The story ends on this note:

“…..............Obediently Denis left the room. Never again, he said to himself, never again would he do anything decisive. Camlet, West Bowlby, Knipswich for Timpany, Spavin Delawarr; and then all the other stations; and then, finally, London. The thought of the journey appalled him. And what on earth was he going to do in London when he got there? He climbed wearily up the stairs. It was time for him to lay himself in his coffin............................”