Friday, April 07, 2006

The Smallest and Least Visible Details

In the reign of Harad IV there lived at court a maker of miniatures, who was celebrated for the uncanny perfection of his work. Not only were the objects of his strenuous art pleasing to look at but the pleasure and astonishment increased as the observer, bending closer, saw that a passionate care had been lavished on the smallest and least visible details. It was said that no matter how closely you examined one of the Master’s little pieces you always discovered some further wonder.


-from IN THE REIGN OF HARAD IV, by the great STEVEN MILLHAUSER, in this week's The New Yorker.

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