About the Book
Narcissist (A follower of Narcissus):
Echo, a nymph, falls in love with a vain youth named Narcissus. When he had reached "his sixteenth year", (fifteen years of age, by modern reckoning) every youth and girl in the town was in love with him, but he haughtily spurned them all. He believed them not to be worthy of his love.
One day when Narcissus was out hunting stags, Echo stealthily followed the handsome youth through the woods, longing to address him but unable to speak first. When Narcissus finally heard footsteps and shouted "Who's there?", Echo answered "Who's there?" And so it went, until finally Echo showed herself and rushed to embrace the lovely youth. He pulled away from the nymph and vainly told her to leave him alone. Narcissus left Echo heartbroken, and she spent the rest of her life in lonely glens, pining away for the love she never knew, until only her voice remained. With Narcissus unchanged and still scornful of those who sought him, a spurned virgin prayed to Rhamnusia (also known as Nemesis), to take revenge on Narcissus by making him feel unrequited love.
Nemesis heard this prayer and sent Narcissus his punishment. He came across a deep pool in a forest, from which he took a drink. As he did, he saw his reflection for the first time in his life and fell in love with the beautiful boy he was looking at, not realizing it was himself. Eventually, after pining away, he realized that the image he saw in the pool was a reflection. Realizing that he could not act upon this love, he tore at his dress and beat at his body, his life force draining out of him. As he died, the body-less Echo came upon him and felt sorrow and pity. His soul was sent to "the darkest hell" and the narcissus flower grew where he died. It is said that Narcissus still keeps gazing on his image in the waters of the river Styx.
About the Creator
cc trubiak was born and raised in the Prairie province of Manitoba. Surrounded by an extensive tract of land covered in rocks and course grass, he had a penchant for being alone and making inanimate objects like a broom, into his most trusted friends. His bedroom was a sanctuary from the bitter cold winters and town locals. Alone in his room cc immersed himself in photography, music, film and book, often finding escape in the world beyond his little town. Today, cc trubiak is an artist living in Ottawa, with a social work background in suicide prevention with Aboriginal youth. cc believes that the arts have not only helped him cope throughout his adolescence, but that they continue to even today. He also believes that the arts have the potential of healing and helping others stay alive too. His objective, through his art and his social work practice, is to help people realize their inner artist. Check out cc's website : www.cctrubiak.com for further information on his work.