While I happen to agree with Messrs. Publius about VN's wishes, I couldn't help smiling at the overall tone of the piece, and when I arrived at the recommended paragraph about "the writing process," I'm positive I heard a certain Shade laugh aloud.  "A great writer rarely considers himself great"? "He rips apart his soul"? "Bloody still-born children"?  Such poshlost has nothing to do with VN's splendid insincerity.  Oh well.  The myth of the tortured artist lives on...
 
Regards,
 
J.Morris

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