The Day of Days: An Extravaganza — Reading Companion

The Alliterative Voice of P. Sybarite

The excerpts establish P. Sybarite as a character defined by his love of language. His opening monologue is a cascade of 'S' words: 'stupid-stagnant-sepulchral-sempiternally-sticky.' He is self-aware and self-deprecating, calling his efforts 'poor and lame and halting.' This voice is the novel's primary texture. When he orders beer, he calls it 'a shell of lather,' a phrase the waiter finds amusing. Sybarite is a moralist and a watcher, commenting on a woman's eyes as 'reflected back from the mouth of Hell.' The reader is invited to share his ironic perspective. The alliteration is not just decoration; it signals a narrator who imposes order on a chaotic world through wit.

Dutch House as a Stage for Suspicion

The café Dutch House is rendered with specific, grimy detail. The waiter polishes a table with a 'saturated towel,' and the atmosphere is thick with smoke and noise. Sybarite is a 'regular' who has been away for months, and the waiter's familiarity suggests a closed world of habit. The novel's plot is hinted at through oblique references: Sybarite asks for 'Red November,' and the waiter warns him not to 'fuss him' unless it's 'somethin' extra.' At another table, a young man is being pressured to drink by a woman and an Italian. The waiter refuses to discuss Red November's business. This is a setting where everyone has secrets, and the reader must piece together motives from fragments of dialogue.

The Young Man and the Unfinished Scene

A key excerpt introduces a 'youngster of twenty years' who is drunk but stubborn. He refuses more drink, saying 'I will not' and 'I don't want—lie down jus' for few minutes.' His companions are a woman in a 'daring and costly gown' and a 'singularly handsome' Italian with 'too much jewellery.' The scene is observed by Sybarite, who notes the woman's 'febrile glare.' The narrative cuts away before the conflict resolves. This is typical of the excerpts: they offer vivid moments but withhold outcomes. The reader is left to wonder about the boy's fate and the nature of the woman and Italian's intentions. The incomplete scene creates suspense and suggests that the novel will be built from such charged encounters.

The Extravaganza as a Reading Experience

The excerpts suggest that The Day of Days is less a tight plot than a series of theatrical set pieces. The subtitle 'An Extravaganza' is apt: the novel seems to prioritize atmosphere, dialogue, and character over linear action. The opening chapter is titled 'The Dub,' and the table of contents includes chapters like 'The Glove Counter,' 'A Likely Story,' and 'Wheels of Chance.' These titles promise episodic, almost picaresque adventures. The reader should expect digressions, verbal humor, and a focus on New York's lowlife. The novel's pleasure lies in watching P. Sybarite navigate this world with his alliterative wit and moral commentary.

Approach The Day of Days as a performance. Pay attention to how Vance uses language to characterize P. Sybarite and to create a sense of place. The excerpts leave many threads dangling—the young man's fate, Red November's role, the nature of the 'message' Sybarite carries. Trust that the novel will reward close reading of its dialogue and descriptive details. The extravagance is in the style, not just the plot.