Summary

Although the narrative itself ends with the death of Daria at the end of Part IV, the novel is followed by an extensive epilogue which consists of James Murphy’s notes about the character of Nico Berengo.

The doormen in Berengo’s expensive Manhattan apartment building refuse to acknowledge him and behave rudely towards him. Berengo is resigned to the situation.

Murphy recounts Berengo’s relationship with an American photojournalist named Vera whom Berengo refuses to take seriously because he believes that if she were sincere in her worldview then she would hate Berengo. Vera was killed taking photographs in a warzone. Murphy summarizes Berengo’s unusual love life in which he has sexual relationships with a number of women who all know about each other’s existence in advance of Berengo becoming involved with them.

Berengo...