James Atlas

A penumbra of somber dignity has descended over his reputation.

A penumbra of somber dignity has descended over his reputation.

He describes himself as a mild depressive, and he goes through just terrible suffering, much of it self-generated. And yet read more

He describes himself as a mild depressive, and he goes through just terrible suffering, much of it self-generated. And yet he's also an extremely buoyant person who finds a great deal in life to entertain and instruct and amuse him. He has a kind of vivacity about him. He's very funny, and he's very obsessed with certain themes.

She's a very conservative person and has exceedingly good judgment. Usually, she's telling me, 'Don't do this! Mistake.' And this read more

She's a very conservative person and has exceedingly good judgment. Usually, she's telling me, 'Don't do this! Mistake.' And this time, she said, 'I really think you should write this book, whether he wants you to or not.' To me, this was amazing. And she was right.

I had no reports which described him as a stud,

I had no reports which described him as a stud,

I doubt the garrulous archive bequeathed us by the tape recorder will prove as memorable as Henry James's thank-you notes.

I doubt the garrulous archive bequeathed us by the tape recorder will prove as memorable as Henry James's thank-you notes.