Thanks, Camille for posting that excerpt. I liked the tone of the dialogue, and ironically it struck me as Salingeresque, shades of Uncle Wiggly. But then the idea that he was using real people and their names kept getting in the way. I mean, if this is supposed to be an accurate retelling of the wit and wisdom of these celebreties, then I felt as though I was reading a literary gossip column. On the other hand, if it is imagination projected onto the personae of the beautiful people, it looks like name dropping snobbery. As you say, Camille, it's usefullness as history is limited by our doubts as to the authenticity of the anecdotes, but wait until Joyce gets a hold of those letters from Oona... all the best, Mattis