Summary of William Styron's Darkness Visible

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Book Preview: #1 I had originally intended to begin with a narrative of a trip I had taken to Paris, but I had to discard this part in favor of other matters I wanted to discuss.

In the present version, that section has been restored to its original place.#2 In 1985, I was in Paris on a visit.

I had come down from Copenhagen, and was staying at the Htel Washington.

I had not seen that hotel in nearly 35 years, since the spring of 1952, when I had first come to Paris.

I was certain that I would never return to France.#3 I had flown to Paris to receive the Prix Mondial Cino del Duca, which was awarded to artists or scientists whose work reflected themes or principles of humanism.

The prize was rich yet prestigious, and I was honored to receive it.#4 I had come to a point where I was carefully monitoring each phase of my deteriorating condition.

My acceptance of the illness followed several months of denial.

I had read a lot about depression, both in books tailored for the layman and in professional works.