This writer’s tale went viral because it’s sad and funny, cautionary and amazing
There’s something about this story by writer Adam Roberts that will stay with you all day. It’s like something out of the Twilight Zone or a Paul Auster short story and we love it.
1.
Years ago I was contacted by an Italian gentleman, asking me to write an introduction to an Italian school-text edition of Dickens’s “Christmas Carol”. This would, he assured me, sell to all the secondary schools in Italy and make a good deal of money. 1/
— Adam Roberts (@arrroberts) September 12, 2018
2.
I wrote the intro and sent it off. Signore X contacted me: “it is superb! Superb! There are many such projects on which we can work, Adam. We must meet—I am in London next week. Let us have lunch and discuss!” 2/
— Adam Roberts (@arrroberts) September 12, 2018
3.
So I met X at a London restaurant: a well-dressed, rather florid middle-aged man with an expressive Italian manner. “Your introduction is perfect, perfect!” he told me. “It will sell to every school in Italy! … 3/
— Adam Roberts (@arrroberts) September 12, 2018
4.
… There will be lots of money. You will receive 10% of all money earned, although of course I will take half of that, which is how such things are done in Italy. But still, this will be much, much money!” 4/
— Adam Roberts (@arrroberts) September 12, 2018
5.
Much money sounds good to me, I said. “There are many such projects for schools on which we can collaborate,” he assured me, pouring another glass of wine and tucking into his meal. OK, I said. 5/
— Adam Roberts (@arrroberts) September 12, 2018
6.
Then he was weeping, actually sobbing into his lunch. “Adam! My wife is very ill—very ill. And I—and I—have *not* been a good husband to her. Not been a faithful husband! I am ashamed of myself, so very ashamed!” Er, I said. Ah, I mumbled. Very sorry to hear that, I said. 6/
— Adam Roberts (@arrroberts) September 12, 2018
