02110cam a22003373u 4500001000400000003000700004005001700011006000200028007000500030008004100035040001100076041001700087050000700104100003500111245001700146264005100163300004700214336002600261337002600287338003600313500002200349500003100371508002800402520114800430534004501578653001801623653002301641653005001664856004101714999001701755761UtSlPG20260610133035.0mcr n260607r1996||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPR1 aBeerbohm, Max, Sir,d1872-195610aA. V. Laider 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c1996  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aFrom "Seven Men".  aRelease date is 1996-12-01  aProduced by Judith Boss  a"A. V. Laider" by Sir Max Beerbohm is a novella written in the early 20th century. It explores existential themes and the nature of human decisions through the lens of two convalescents who meet in a quaint seaside hostel. The book centers around the protagonist's reflections on fellow guest A. V. Laider, who harbors a dark secret regarding a past tragedy connected to his beliefs in palmistry and fate.  The narrative unfolds predominantly through the eyes of the unnamed narrator, who recounts encounters with Laider and delves into a philosophical discussion about free will, destiny, and the impact of past choices on current lives. As Laider reveals a haunting story of his history, including a tragic railway accident that he feels responsible for due to his inaction, the tension between belief and doubt in both palmistry and personal agency becomes palpable. The interaction between the two men serves as a catalyst for exploring deeper notions of guilt and moral responsibility, leading to a poignant and introspective conclusion that questions the nature of truth and self-perception. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  nOriginal publication data not identified  aShort stories  aCharacter sketches  aEngland -- Social life and customs -- Fiction40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/761  c42880d42880