The Uncommon Reader

The Queen continues to meet with “grand visitors” (60), including the President of France, who sparks a new interest in reading the famous author Proust. She goes on her summer holiday at Balmoral with a large collection of books. Despite the fact that the summer felt “cold, wet and unproductive” for the other summer guest, the vacation was “an idyll” (62) for the Queen, as it meant she could spend all of her time reading.

Sir Kevin becomes more frustrated by Norman’s presence by the Queen’s side, and after the prime minister sends his special adviser to complain about Norman, Sir Kevin begins to develop a plan to get rid of Norman. When the Queen goes to visit Canada on what turns out to be a “disastrous” (65) tour, Sir Kevin calls Norman to his office. Sir Kevin tells Norman that Her Majesty “wonders if [he] ha[s] ever thought of university” (67). When the Queen returns, Norman has left the palace for the University of East Anglia, and Sir Kevin has made sure that none of Norman’s letters reach the Queen. The Queen is not surprised by his disappearance since “sudden absences and abrupt departures had always been a feature of her life” (70).