Friday essay: I was enthralled by Crime and Punishment at 14. Rereading it after 60 years, I’m still awed

By Kevin John Brophy, Emeritus Professor of Creative Writing, The University of Melbourne

The old woman who once sliced our front garden hose with a knife has just walked past our home without pausing. Not long after the hose incident I confronted her with what she had done and she denied ever walking along our street, let alone cutting anyone’s hose, or even carrying a knife.

In fact she emptied her bag for me and there was no knife in it. I had been searching on the web about strange behaviour among the elderly and one source noted that it is not uncommon for aged women to carry a knife in their bag. I am not sure what this means, but each time I see the old woman (and…

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