King Sorrow Chapter 13 Summary & Analysis — Twelve
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
On a Wednesday afternoon, Arthur works his shift at the Brooks Library. He takes the first quiet moment to climb to the Special Collection on the Juliet balcony. The room, unchanged for over a century, escaped the 1840 fire that destroyed the original Rackham College. Arthur is officially there to update the catalog on the IBM computer, but he also begins stealing books: a first edition of Jack London’s White Fang and a limited first of The Compleat Angler with a Cosway binding. He acts detached, as if one hand works independently of his will.
Six hours later, Arthur leaves the library in the rain with eight thousand dollars’ worth of books in his backpack. Waiting outside is a cherry 1949 Cadillac convertible owned by Llewellyn. Van gets out to let Arthur into the back with Donna and Allie. Colin sits up front with Llewellyn, smoking a blunt of blue marijuana. He offers Arthur a hit, calling it a “sativa-heavy line.” Arthur declines, calling himself a straight arrow. Colin explains that Llewellyn is his supplier, who gets the marijuana straight from the US government. When Arthur and Donna both express disbelief, Colin clarifies that the government is the largest grower in North America. His grandfather smokes it for his appetite because he is sick with AIDS.
Key Events
- Arthur reports for his shift at Brooks Library and ascends to the Special Collection.
- He notes the room’s ancient architecture—medieval windows, stone embrasures that survived the 1840 fire.
- Arthur uses the inspection and catalog-update duties as cover to steal two valuable first editions.
- He places the books in his school bag while his gaze drifts to the rain-streaked window, as if the theft is not his active choice.
- After work, Arthur finds Llewellyn’s Cadillac idling at the curb. Van, Donna, Allie, and Colin are inside.
- Colin offers Arthur a hit of blue marijuana; Arthur declines.
- Colin reveals that the marijuana comes from the US government, procured through his grandfather Llewellyn.
- Colin discloses that Llewellyn smokes it for his appetite because he has AIDS.
Character Development
Arthur continues to evolve from the obedient student-worker into someone willing to cross ethical lines. His theft feels almost automatic, disassociated from his conscious mind—a sign that the pressures he faces (perhaps related to the earlier chapters’ events) are eroding his usual inhibitions. He is also surprisingly capable of laughter despite the stress of the day, thanks to Colin’s warm personality.
Colin emerges as a knowledgeable, relaxed figure who shares his grandfather’s marijuana without pretense. His “professorial” enthusiasm for the strain’s characteristics contrasts with the grim reality of Llewellyn’s illness. Colin’s willingness to be open about his grandfather’s condition suggests a family culture of honesty and mutual care.
Donna is present in the car and takes a drag of the blunt, showing she is comfortable with the group’s dynamic. Van and Allie remain background presences but are clearly part of the same close friend circle. Llewellyn (the grandfather) does not appear directly but is characterized through Colin: a supplier of medical marijuana, ill with AIDS, yet driving a conspicuous vintage car.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Theft and Moral Disassociation
Arthur steals rare books while focusing his eyes elsewhere, as if his body acts on its own. This motif of divided consciousness suggests an internal conflict: his intellect knows theft is wrong, but his situation or compulsion overrides his conscience. The special collection’s survival of the 1840 fire contrasts with Arthur’s deliberate, quiet destruction of the library’s trust.
Wealth, Secrecy, and Prestige
The Cadillac, the rare books, the Special Collection itself—all signal a world of privilege and hidden value. Llewellyn’s ownership of the car (and his ties to government marijuana) blurs the line between legal and illicit prestige.
Illness and Care
Colin’s casual mention of AIDS reframes the “blue marijuana” from a recreational substance to a medical necessity. The revelation deepens the reader’s understanding of Llewellyn not as a shady dealer but as a sick man using a legal (though government-sourced) treatment.
The Past Encroaching on the Present
The library’s medieval architecture and the 1840 fire are direct links to history. Arthur’s theft—taking objects preserved precisely because of their historical value—makes him a participant in the destruction of that past.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 13 marks a turning point in Arthur’s moral trajectory. The theft of the books is not an accident or a momentary lapse—it is a deliberate, premeditated act carried out under the guise of duty. This chapter also expands the novel’s social world: we meet the full friend group and learn the vulnerability behind Llewellyn’s flashy car. The revelation about AIDS adds a layer of medical realism and pathos, raising stakes that go beyond Arthur’s personal crisis. Finally, the chapter sets up potential consequences: the books are worth eight thousand dollars, and Arthur’s faculty supervisor and the library are certain to notice.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Arthur avoid looking at the books as he steals them?
Arthur’s gaze remains fixed on the rain-speckled window, suggesting he is trying to distance himself from the act. He seems to treat the theft as something happening to someone else—a psychological coping mechanism that allows him to override his conscience.
2. What does Colin’s explanation about the blue marijuana reveal about his family?
Colin reveals that his grandfather Llewellyn, a government-supplied user of medical marijuana, has AIDS. This shows that the family deals openly with illness and unconventional remedies, and that Colin is both knowledgeable and unashamed.
3. How does the description of the Special Collection foreshadow Arthur’s theft?
The room is described as unchanged for over a century, having survived the great fire. It is a space of preservation and history. Arthur’s theft of original first editions violates that preservation, and the contrast between the room’s permanence and Arthur’s quick, selfish act heightens the sense of loss.