Chapter 63 — The Age of Glitter: Summary and Key Themes

⚠️ 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

Ramsay Coker, staying at Hanover Terrace, comes down to the dining room in search of coffee. The morning papers are scattered on the table. He reads a front-page story about the murder of society diarist Vivian Quinn, whose body was recovered from the Thames. Quinn had been stabbed near Berkeley Square and was found dressed as a Spanish matador. Ramsay vomits into a wastepaper basket. For a paranoid moment, he wonders if he himself killed Quinn during a drug- and alcohol-fuelled haze, especially since he had been furious with Quinn about the novel Folderol. He recalls that Quinn's novel would never be published now.

Ramsay returns to his room, where his own badly typed manuscript pages cover the floor. He looks at them with despair, realising he is not a good writer—in fact, he thinks he is awful. He decides to start over, owing it to art. He then goes to Quinn's flat in Conduit Street. The landlady recognises him, and he tells her that Quinn's mother has asked him to collect a book of poetry for a funeral reading. She lets him in, and he quickly finds Quinn's manuscript, Folderol, sitting on the desk. He takes it back to Hanover Terrace.

Back at the house, the fires are lit. Ramsay crushes the title page of Quinn's novel and throws it into the drawing-room hearth. He then goes to his room, takes a swig of Collis Browne, and sits at his typewriter. He gazes at a clean sheet of paper, then types a new title—The Age of Glitter—and a dedication: “For my friend, Vivian Quinn.” He places these two pages on top of Quinn's manuscript. The doorbell rings, but Ramsay knows it will not be for him.

Key Events

• Ramsay learns of Vivian Quinn's murder from the newspapers and vomits. - He briefly suspects he might have killed Quinn during a blackout. - He despairs over his own manuscript and decides to start over. - He visits Quinn's flat, deceives the landlady, and steals the Folderol manuscript. - He burns the original title page of Quinn's novel in the hearth. - He types a new title page and dedication, claiming the work as his own. - The doorbell rings, but it is not for him.

Character Development

• Ramsay Coker: This chapter reveals Ramsay's vanity and self-delusion. He initially believes he might be a murderer, but quickly moves on. His despair over his own writing shows his insecurity, yet his theft of Quinn's manuscript demonstrates his willingness to commit crimes for artistic success. He feels energised by committing crimes, suggesting a moral decline. His decision to dedicate the stolen work to Quinn is a twisted act of vanity and guilt.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

• Artistic ambition and self-delusion: Ramsay's belief that he is a terrible writer contrasts with his earlier ambition. He steals another's work to achieve success, showing how ambition can corrupt. - Plagiarism and theft of creative work: Ramsay takes Quinn's manuscript and passes it off as his own, a clear act of theft. - Fire as purification: Ramsay burns the original title page, symbolically destroying the evidence of the work's true authorship, but also suggesting a cleansing or rebirth. - The manuscript as grail: Quinn's manuscript is described as a “grail” that Ramsay seeks, representing the object of his desire. - The typewriter and white paper: The clean sheet of paper represents potential and reinvention, as Ramsay types a new title and dedication. - The age of glitter: The chapter's title suggests a superficial, glittering facade that masks darker truths.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter is pivotal because it shows Ramsay crossing a moral line. He moves from being a struggling writer to a thief and plagiarist. The theft of Quinn's manuscript sets up future consequences, as Ramsay's deception may be uncovered. It also deepens the theme of artistic integrity versus ambition. The chapter's ending, with the doorbell ringing, hints at impending disruption.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Ramsay vomit when he reads about Quinn's murder?

Ramsay vomits because he is shocked and possibly guilty. He had been angry with Quinn and had been in a drug- and alcohol-induced state, so he briefly wonders if he killed Quinn. The physical reaction suggests a visceral response to the news.

1. What does Ramsay do with Quinn's manuscript, and why?

Ramsay steals Quinn's manuscript, Folderol, from his flat. He burns the original title page and replaces it with his own title, The Age of Glitter, and a dedication to Quinn. He intends to pass the work off as his own, driven by his despair over his own writing and his ambition.

1. What is the significance of the doorbell ringing at the end?

The doorbell ringing suggests that someone is at the door, but Ramsay assumes it is not for him. This could foreshadow an interruption or a revelation that will challenge his new scheme. It also reinforces his isolation and self-absorption.

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