The History of Sound: Stories

Lionel Worthing is a recurring character in the collection. He is the protagonist and first-person narrator of “The History of Sound” and also reappears as a minor character in “Origin Stories.” In “The History of Sound,” Lionel is compelled to reflect on and tell the story of his past life when he unexpectedly receives the phonograph cylinders he and his late lover David made decades prior in the mail. Now an elderly man, Lionel is overcome by emotion when confronting this long-gone era of his youth. Lionel’s experience listening to the phonographs overwhelms him with sorrow and grief, but also grants him perspective on his past life, his connection to music, his encounters with love, and the human experience in general.

Lionel possesses an open and honest narrative voice. Throughout the story, he delves into his past with David in the early 20th century, rendering their love affair with passion and poignancy. Despite the social and cultural barriers that kept him and David from fully embracing their love for each other, Lionel cherishes their connection for the rest of his life.