Thank you! I enjoyed your discussion of the book and Stephen. I feel I must re read as you reminded me by reading some of my favorite passages. I find that people are often fascinated by his Atheism as much as his intelligence and homosexuality. I have enjoyed his debates alongside Christopher Hitchens on the merits or lack thereof in organized religion in general as well as the Catholic and Anglican churches specifically. I admire him deeply and also have empathy for his battle with what we call Bi Polar disorder in America and Manic Depression in Britain.

What I found fascinating about Moab is My Washpot was the extent to which Stephen Fry mined incidents in his own life in writing his novels The Liar and The Hippopotamus. One of the next volumes of Fry's memoirs deals with the drugs he was taking while writing those novels in the 90s. It is debatable whether drugs or autobiography inspired one very memorable scene in The Hippopotamus

Of course, Americans my age remember Don McLean’s American Pie quite well from 1971. The 8 minute 27 song got a lot of air play that summer, and the tantalizing lyrics were always subject to interpretation as to which recent historical events were being referenced.

You make me want to return to the little world of "Moab"! When I was in school, myself and a circle of friends were regular apostles of Stephen Fry - him and Wilde, Hugo (excepting 'Les Mis'), Rimbaud, Baudelaire, and like sort of gothic and aesthete dainties. I've wondered if his prose would stand up now, but the bits you read were a delight! Perhaps a reread...

16:55 And did you get into Truss' book? I really like T. Bairs book - not necessary his policies. (ok I got it for £5 which helped a lot) Cameron's book I refused because of Brexit - maybe one day when someone capable will recommend it. May's book is on my TBR. But I never but Truss book on it. I am looking forward to your review - also not posting anything will say enough 😁 In general I like how many books are published by all kinds of Brit. politicians and I have a few on my radar. Compared to Germany - not many people expect books from their representatives and if there are books they are often ghost written and do not connect well with their constituency.