A S H Smyth

I  If only I’d been born Lydia Davis

I’d have written a lot less.

II  The Lydia Davis School of Banter

– Call me, bitch.
– Don’t call me bitch.

III  Flaubert, revised

‘“A good sentence in prose,” says Flaubert, “should be like a good line in poetry, unchangeable, as rhythmic, as sonorous.”’

– Davis (transl.), after Flaubert

‘“A good sentence in prose,” said Flaubert, “should be like a good line of poetry: unchangeable; as rhythmic; as sonorous.”’

– Smyth (ed.), after Davis (transl.), after Flaubert

IV  Certain Knowledge from Lydia Davis

In Cape Cod there are
few cod now. What they fish there
is mostly shellfish.

V  Russian literature’s answer to Lydia Davis

‘Niet!’