Book One Is Done!

   Today I finished Book One in the novel Pilgrim. So far  a lot has happened, and much has been revealed. One major development is that Doctor Jung has influenced Lady Quartermaine to put him in charge of Pilgrim, rather than Doctor Furtwängler.  He did this by having one of his books placed in her room, knowing that after she had read it she would desire to have him placed in charge of Pilgrim's care and treatment. This shows he is quite shrewd, and possibly very experienced in manipulating people. This shrewdness was also demonstrated in his handling of the angry Doctor Furtwängler. Doctor Jung convinced him that it was all Lady Quartermaine's doing that caused the switch, and asked him to continue working with Pilgrim as the Primary Consultant, rather than just shutting him out completely. In this way he appeased Doctor Furtwängler, maintained control of Pilgrim, and got his way. 


  Another development is that Pilgrim has been found to talk in his sleep. It was first discovered by Kessler, his orderly, who then reported it to Doctor Jung. Doctor Jung stayed the night in Pilgrim's room after discovering this and was rewarded for his efforts. Pilgrim again started talking and began describing a scene to   Jung. He described a naked young man in a chair and a drawing on a piece of paper, and then repeats the name "Angelo" a few times. Jung then decides to contact Lady Quartermaine with the news, and learn whatever else he can from her. This section ends 'book one" in a very interesting manner, now as the reader I am drawn to discover what he learns from the ever mysterious Lady Quartermaine. 


   Besides this main plot and its developments we also learn some more about possible side plots. Some of Kessler's past is revealed, including the fact that he was once a patient at Burghölzli, but was pronounced cured and was offered a Job as an orderly at the clinic. However, it is also revealed that Kessler is still obsessed with wings and anything that has them. Aside from Kessler, another Orderly has her tale expanded during book one. Dora Henkel is Countess Tatiana Blavinskeya's orderly, and it is shown that she apparently has some sort of a crush on her patient. Both Dora and the Countess are obsessed with the Moon; however Countess Tatiana is a Patient at the Burghölzli because she believes she is from the moon, and refuses to give up her delusions.


   All in all this has been quite an interesting novel so far, and I look forward to reading more.

   "I must say, Carl Gustav, you do this sort of thing very well," he said icily.   "What sort of thing?"   "Placing knives in people's backs and then behaving as though they had somehow managed to reach round and stab themselves."(Findley, 105)