Closing Accounts
E. P. Cowley
Smashwords
eISBN 9780994970909
2015
Every so often you read something that truly helps you see the world in a new way. It causes a paradigm shift of an unveiling. It is like scales falling from your eyes. That has happened to me a few times over the last 30ish years. Reading C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape and Space Series, Jacob the Baker by Noah ben Shea, Piercing the Darkness by Frank E. Petretti, Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone, The Singer by Calvin Miller … This was one of those books. I started keeping track of my reading in October of 1995, since 1996 I have averaged 211 books per year, and since 2016 I am averaging over 400 books per year. And this is one of the best pieces of fiction I have read. And it is one of those life changing books.
I absolutely loved Tales From Wakken Wood, when I read it earlier this year. And while doing research for it, I discovered this volume. I found mention to it on 2 blog posts from a decade ago. And through some internet sleuthing, the way back machine and some luck was able to obtain a copy of it. I think it is a tragedy that this volume is not available, and dearly hope the good people at Ignatius who published Wakken give it a chance to be back in print.
The description of this volume originally was:
“When a young artist paints the Mayor’s portrait, he hangs it in City Hall. The trouble is that this is no ordinary painting. Everyone sees something different and whose account is true? The painting launches a train of strange events in a world that teeters on the edge of apocalypse. The story is told in four linked accounts woven together, ending at the same moment in time.”
A longer description states:
“Fifteen-year old Letty has painted the Mayor's portrait. He hangs it in City Hall for all the world to see, but the trouble is that this is no ordinary painting. Everyone sees something different and whose account is true? But Letty's painting is only one strange occurrence in a world that teeters on the edge of apocalypse.
Michael, the reluctant soldier, is forced to join the General's rag-tag army. Assigned to the regiment in the capitol city, he finds his way into a company of mysterious people who are working to rescue the city's orphans from destitution. A man named Joe is the leader of this strange crew and Michael learns to trust him, even in the abyss called Belltown.
Thaddaeus, the forgotten artist, stirs up the crowd of regulars at The Tower Inn with his disturbing paintings. Is he mad? Or is he a prophet? Marching to the beat of his own interior music, he never asks what the world thinks. He is too busy straining after an elusive tune, following wherever it might lead.
Mayor Jared Hobic is happily corrupt: sucking up to the General, cheating on his wife, slithering like a snake into his position of power and influence. Everything is going his way until a young girl paints his portrait. Now he's plagued by a knocking sound. Is it in his head? Is he losing his mind? And who is this mysterious man named Joe who eludes his grasp? Mayor Hobic is certainly beginning to lose his grip on his carefully constructed life.
The story is told in four linked accounts woven together and ending at the same moment in time. Threaded throughout the tales are images of a strange man named Joe, the paintings of Letty; and the bread lady, mysterious and serene, who is always at her table in the market square.”
At the bottom of the book page we are informed:
“An illustrated map for Closing Accounts is available on the author's blogsite: The Fiction of EP Cowley.
Check out Tales From Wakken Wood, Cowley's current project.
The author lives in Vancouver, B.C.”
The chapters and section in this volume are:
Letty Begins
Michael’s Sketch
The Painter’s Exposition
Extracts From The Book Of Tales
The Poor Man and His Treasure
The Ungrateful Guests
The Girl Who Was Robbed
A Tale of Two Sons
Quietus
Epilogue
This book hit me light a freight train. Normally I would read through a volume this size in an afternoon or evening. It took me most of Holy Week to get through it. Part of me did not want to stop reading, and another part knew I needed to process. Each of the first three sections; Letty’s, Michael’s, and the Painters’ rocked me. I went back and read each section after reading it, and read it a second time. Then the four stories from the Book of Tales, are retellings of parables in a modern light. They reminded me a lot of Joshua’s teaches by Girzone or the lessons of Jacob the Baker. Quintus was not an easy read, written as a journal, from the Mayor it ebbs and flows. It is by far the longest section both in length and in amount of time covered. It is the most in depth.
In the story we encounter a phrase:
“Beneath, above, behind, before, within, beside, to win, restore.”
It hit me the first time we encountered it and as the painter latched on to it, In some ways it became his breathing Jesus prayer. But as the story progressed we find out it is the refrain to a song and over time we learn some versus, What I have built and I could easily be wrong is:
Beneath, above, behind, beforeWithin, beside, to win, restore.I bind unto myself todayThe power in the starlit spaceThe sun’s life-giving lucid raysThe whiteness of the evening moon,The flashing of the lightning freeThe whirling wind’s tumultuous shocksThe steadfast earthThe deep salt seaSwirling ‘round the ancient rocks.Beneath, above, behind, beforeWithin, beside, to win, restore.I bind unto myself todayA refuge under mighty wingsA fortress in the time of stormA shield from terror in the nightA clashing sword of victoryA strong right arm to rescue allAn eye that seesAn ear that hearsBestowing strength to those who call.Beneath, above, behind, beforeWithin, beside, to win, restore.I bind unto myself this nightA refuge under mighty wingsA fortress in the time of stormA shield from terror in the dark.Beneath, above, behind, beforeWithin, beside, to win, restore.I bind unto myself this nightThe flashing of the lightning freeThe whirling wind’s tumultuous shocksThe steadfast earthThe deep salt sea . . .Beneath, above, behind, beforeWithin, beside, to win, restore.
It does not appear to have name in the story but reminded me so much of Saint Patrick’s Brestplate, especially the version in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, that I have taken to calling it the Closing Accounts Breastplate. I have started praying this each evening, it marks the third prayer from a fictional novel I try and pray daily. The first is as mentioned St Patrick’s Rune, the second is A Hunter’s Prayer, and now this one. And every time we encountered a piece of it as I read I copied it out and added it to my prayer notebook.
I talked with 2 of my teen children while reading this, in fact they would tell you I could not stop talking about it. It is a volume I would love for them to read and be able to share with friends.
This is an excellent read, I could easily recommend it for older teens, Young Adults and Adults. This is way better than a lot of fiction I read in my teen years. It is an excellent work that draws readers in quickly and it really keeps their attention. It is one of those out-of-print volumes I track down and read, that I desperately wish was still available. I know several people I would recommend it to immediately. A fantastic read I can easily recommend, and I hope there will be many more from Cowley’s masterful pen.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!
Books by E.P. Cowley:
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