UNRAVELING THE UNREAL

To celebrate the birthday of self-taught artist Henry Darger, fans read from his 15,000-page illustrated novel “In the Realms of the Unreal.” Participants read directly from the unbound copy of the volume, the longest known work of fiction ever written. It was typed with a variety of colored typewriter ribbons and heavily illustrated. Darger (1892-1973) was a janitor and dishwasher in Chicago, a frequent churchgoer who kept almost completely to himself. After he died, his landlord discovered his novel, journals, and scrolls of intricate collages. “In the Realms of the Unreal” – that’s the shorthand version of Darger’s 27-word title – is about seven young sisters, the Vivian Girls, who lead a violent child-slave revolt against their cruel oppressors. The often-nude girls engage in bloody warfare to protect their homeland, Angelinia, against marauding Glendelinians. Darger also wrote a lengthy autobiography, recorded the weather in detail every day for 10 years, and began an unfinished 8,000-page sequel to “In the Realms of the Unreal.” Above is a photograph of Darger’s complete works, which are now part of the collection of the American Folk Art Museum. At left is “Untitled (Portrait of Colonel Jack Francis Evans),” a page from the novel to be read tonight. Tonight, 7 p.m., American Folk Art Museum, 45 W. 53rd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-265-1040, $10 general, $5 seniors, members, and students.

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