We all know that flashbacks should not be signaled by putting 'had' in front of past tense verbs. And we all know that the schools of "creative writing" teach it, for reasons of their own, as the proper way to do. They instruct that one should not write "When I was at the beach last summer .." but rather one should write, since the reader won't be likely to know that last summer was earlier than today "When I had been at the beach last summer .."
With that for context, note this item from Line of Vision, by David Ellis, c.2001.
I recognize Janet Brewer as she passes the defense table on the way to the witness stand. I remember her from the foundation Christmas party. The short, gray-haired woman with her hair in a bun. I caught her eyeballing me as I made my way through the crowd aimlessly, waiting for Rachel to be alone. She
looked away when I saw her.
She looked away when I saw her at the Christmas party? or she looked away when I saw her in the courtroom? (Yes, yes, I know it hardly matters, but this makes an interesting point.) IF it makes a difference, the insertion of 'had' would clarify it, thus: She had looked away when I saw her (at the Christmas party).
The goal of grammar is comprehension, getting everyone on the same page.
.br-had.wed.13july11.
For those still interested, here's an item from my archives, from a Stuart Kaminsky novel, regarding the "creative" flashback convention.
"Her dark hair was pulled back and tied with the old-fashioned orange ribbon Lew had given her for her
twelfth birthday".
You would think "her twelfth birthday" would be a dead giveaway, but maybe not.
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