The Liar (Masterplots II: Short Story Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Tobias Wolff
- First Published: 1981
- Type of Plot: Psychological
- Time of Work: The 1950's
- Setting: Northern California
- Principal Characters: James, Margaret, His father, Dr. Murphy
- Genres: Short fiction
- Subjects: 1950’s, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Mothers, Parents and children, Teenagers, Twentieth century, California, Fear, Fathers, Storytelling, Death or dying, Truthfulness and falsehood, Bereavement or grief, Bears, Boys, Buses, Rain, Parks
- Locales: Northern California
The Story
“The Liar” of the title is the teenage James, whose morbid lies are a cause of concern to his mother. When she discovers that James has written a friend with the false news that she is suffering from a mysterious illness, she feels compelled to call on Dr. Murphy, her friend and the family physician, to help cure James of his tendency to invent things and embellish on reality. James at this point begins an inner, psychological journey triggered by his conversation with the doctor. He begins to remember various incidents in his past that will lead to memories of...
[The entire page is 1439 words long]
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