ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the place and role of ‘nonsense’ in the trilogy. It describes ‘nonsense’ broadly as all that flouts commonly held conventions in narrative expression and delivery. In A Memoir of the Future, ‘nonsense’ appears in many forms ranging from the idiomatic use of language and dialogue to the general structure of the works. The chapter focuses on the non-sensuous nature of psychic reality as it appears in the trilogy, its relation to nonsense, the senses, fiction and psychic truth. It suggests that Memoir’s ability to impact the reader is precisely due to these ‘nonsense’ qualities. W. R. Bion uses reversal of perspective, paradoxical tensions, ambiguity, unresolved dialogues, de-contextualisation, punning, bizarre imagery and obscure language to generate ‘nonsense’ in the text. Dense referencing drawing on his favourite sources, his use of neologisms and deeply personal references further add to a narrative that resists being saturated by simple understanding or interpretation.
