“The Scriveners” is a short story by Dino Buzzati that can be found in his collection Restless Nights: Selected Stories. It’s about a man who works as one of the King’s scriveners, someone who sits at a typewriter all day and produces whatever kind of writing they specialize in, for the King’s pleasure. On very rare occasions, one of the scriveners is singled out for a special distinction, although there’s much mystery around exactly what it means. Here’s a summary of “The Scriveners”.
“The Scriveners” Summary
In an immense room there are thousands of men sitting at typewriters. They’re the King’s scriveners, and they write a variety of fiction and non-fiction for their Master. The King doesn’t read everything, of course, and from some writers he’s never read a word. The narrator has been doing this work for many years. Suddenly, a clicking is heard from the narrator’s typewriter and a red bulb on it lights up.
Everyone else looks at him. He has received “the call”, which means he must continue typing non-stop with only brief, pre-arranged pauses for his physical needs. If he stops, he dies. “The call” rarely occurs, and those chosen are always a bit older. Opinion is divided on whether it’s a punishment, an acknowledgement, a caprice, or a form of motivation.
If the one chosen ceases typing, death likely comes by starvation, as there’s no evidence the court executioner is involved. It’s also possible the writer is pardoned, even given a prize.
When the other writers leave at the end of the day, the narrator will stay at his desk typing. He’ll get a brief nap at dawn and then resume work. His days will continue like this until he can’t do it anymore. The historian seated next to him, Castenèdolo, believes “the call” is a sign of great esteem. The narrator wonders how long he can hold out without an outside life, just writing all the time.
It’s Castenèdolo’s last day before retirement. He believes his work is obscure and neglected. The narrator heard that the King has become very interested in history and hardly reads anything else, like his tales of fiction.
As night falls, the bell rings and signals the end of the working day. The thousands of scriveners cover their typewriters and file out. Castenèdolo says goodbye and encourages the narrator not to be afraid. As he’s about to cover his typewriter, it emits a clicking sound and the red bulb comes on.
Castenèdolo is petrified at receiving “the call” and turns pale. He slowly places the cover over his typewriter. He can’t do it; he accepts whatever his fate may be and leaves.
The narrator turns on his lamp and continues to write.
I hope this summary of “The Scriveners” by Dino Buzzati was helpful.