Schwartz: A History / From "Schwartz" by David Christie Murray

A weary first-person narrator, a writer fighting creative fog, becomes aware of a persistent, uncanny presence while recounting village life and a trio of intertwined figures: Schwartz, a faithful adherent; Lil, whose pride provokes consequence; and Scraper, a new-comer who supplants Schwartz and wins Lil’s misplaced devotion. The story follows shifting allegiances, imposture, and quiet vengeance amid local rituals — drums, a martial procession, and a decorated pageant — culminating in a public spectacle where authority is reversed and themes of credulity, vanity, and poetic justice are examined.