"Well, Winnie, I have reason to believe that they are photographs of the human soul on its way to Heaven." - Donald Barthelme, The Photographs

Back in July, 1969 men and women across the globe beheld for the first time a truly amazing photo – an American astronaut’s footprint on the surface of the moon. Less than five years later, in December 1973, even more astonishing photos were taken by British physicist Reginald Hobson from the Cavendish Laboratory at Cambridge University – photos of a human soul making its accent to Heaven. Although the photos themselves were subsequently burned by Dr. Hobson, we are fortunate to have an account of these rare treasures preserved in Donald Barthelme’s The Photographs. Also fortunate we can listen to the author himself read his remarkable five-pager (link below).

We listen in as Donald Barthelme captures our two Cambridge physicists, Reggie and Winnie, discussing their unique discovery in typically British style, a tea and crumpets exchange right off the pages of Anthony Trollope. After quickly concluding the photos are indeed accurate and depict a genuine human soul, Winnie’s observation, confirmed by Reggie, is the human soul is definitely unsightly: “God. Ugly little bugger, isn’t it?” A most understandable remark since the everyday object the photo brings to Winnie’s mind is a corroded frying plan with a rough knuckled something-or-other on top.

Actually, Winnie’s judgement echoes the tradition of ancient Greek philosophy going back to Plato. Here’s a quote from one of the most influential of all Greek philosophers, Plotinus: “Withdraw into yourself and look. If you do not as yet see beauty within you, do as does the sculptor of a statue that is to be beautified: he cuts away here, he smooths it there, he makes this line lighter, this other one purer, until he disengages beautiful lineaments in the marble. Do you this, too. Never cease working at the statue until there shines out upon you from it the divine sheen of virtue, until you see perfect goodness firmly established in stainless shrine.”

No doubt about it, Reggie and Winnie find the ugliness disturbing. Very disturbing. They ask: Why couldn’t the human soul have been beautiful? The answer the physicists come up with also has a long tradition in the West, but, in this case, the answer isn’t from Greek philosophy, the answer is from Christian thinkers like Augustine of Hippo: the reason why the photos do not show a beautiful human soul is expressed clearly and succinctly in one word: sin.

Ah, sin! At this point might we be treated to a lively philosophical exchange by these two highly educated intellectuals on the nature of sin? Please keep in mind, this tale is spun from the imagination of postmodern Donald Barthelme, author with a distinct flair for the comic and absurd. Therefore, rather than the heights of abstraction, rather than any lofty metaphysics or eschatology, on the topic of sin, Winnie has a confession to make: he has been carrying on an affair with Reggie’s wife, Dorothea. After all, my good chap, a little illicit behavior injects life with a bit of uncertainty, or, as one may say, a spot of zest. Reggie asks: But, Winnie, business before pleasure. What should we do with the photos? Winnie replies: Burn them. To this Reggie asks: But don't we have a responsibility for the truth in the spirit of science?

The British gentlemen agree the photos should be burned. But is their reasoning sound? Perhaps publishing the photos wouldn't so much eliminate mystery as it would serve to deepen mystery. We can also ask: Would they decide to burn the photos if the human soul displayed symmetry and light and beauty? Lastly, would they reach their decision so quickly if Winnie didn't have his bloody affair with Reggie's wife? A highly philosophic tale with a twist of limey humor, one I wholeheartedly recommend.

Listen to Donald Barthelme read The Photographs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlitcmlHH9g

The Photographs is one of the stories collected in The Teachings of Don B.. This 1992 publication also includes a dynamite Introduction written by Thomas Pynchon.


“Fragments are the only forms I trust.” - American author Donald Barthelme (1931-1989), one of the most extraordinary innovators in the world of experimental short fiction. ( )