But to the book. Kerry, you are spot on in mentioning Nicholson Baker, I was put much in mind of The Anthologist as I was reading. A similar kind of novel, this, maybe with a harder edge.

Stu, in a literal sense this is a very French novel: I even recognised some of the place names and felt sure that I had at some point travelled a similar route in childhood. But it feels French, too, in a subtler less easily defined way.

This sounds like a very unique book. The intense introspection among a mundane setting and events reminds me of Nicholson Baker.

I like your George Washington story. Henry James’ The Aspern Papers looks at a similar subject, and I believe that Henry James himself had a penchant for destroying the evidence. I would be cheering from his corner!

Lolita is the first Nabokov I read, but not my favourite. I would highly recommend reading some more Nabokov before worrying about the biographical stuff :)

I do however read a fair amount of biography on historical characters. when I think about it there is usually a little dirt involved and definitely many letters that were never meant to be read by the public involved. Martha Washington burned almost all of George Washington’s letters after his death probably in order to avoid this. To me it was absolutely understandable. Historians view her actions as a catastrophe!

Nabokov’s biography sounds good. I have only ever read “Lolita” but I would imagine only a very intriguing person could have created that book.