Faulkner and hemingway must be read. Two bona fide geniuses. I still don't se how Hemingway did what he did with such simple words and images. From plain pictures great, deep emotional patterns emerge, the untold story-told.

Faulkner is similar but whereas Hemingway does it in bold straightforward strokes, Faulkner does it with little strokes layering and layering until a fine masterpiece emerges.

John on the Sunset Coast; it's "Josephus the complete Works" translated by William Whiston, AM 12th printing, 1974. I believe I read it in '76 and on some rare occasions have returned to it as a reference. It is tedious and large sections are almost reprints of the Hebrew Bible but that is one of the very interesting parts. The variations in text demonstrate the Jewish mind and take on things at that moment. The "Christian Gloss" is kept in. I only wish I could have read the Greek translation. Yes it was an apology and you see that Josephus was an intelligent and diplomatic man. I have moved on from my original interest so I don't believe i will ever wade back into it but every so often something tweaks my memory and sends me back to it.

When I was young Poe was my poet, all melancholy and haunted. When I acquired a few ghosts of my own I moved on from Poe. Well, he's still there somewhere in the background, moaning about. I keep him walled up and it's only when I have a fine glass of port wine sherry that I can really hear him wailing.