Summary

Chapter 43 takes place in the Spring of 1955. Joy has begun answering some of Jack's correspondence. Davy and Douglas are completely at home at the Kilns. Joy writes to Belle that she once shared Bill's bed, writing, and life, but felt contempt for him. She has been forced to adjust to life without sex, but will remain with Jack as long as he wants her. Jack has more time to write now that he works at Cambridge, but worries that he will have no more worthy ideas. Joy and Jack talk through options and ideas until Jack has a general story in mind. This story includes goddesses from mythology and the idea that “when love becomes a god it becomes a devil” (318). By the next day, Jack has written the first chapter. Over the coming days, Jack and Joy work frantically on the story...