Посвящается distan@lj
вослед сегодняшнему опросу и давнишним обсуждением ограниченности нашего словаря суперлативов, а также средств для пробуждения выражения добрых чуйств.

Among men of letters I have known, Henry James was probably the greatest detester of the obvious in writing, and it was rarely, even after some delay, that he did not find the best or least over-worked word; but there was an occasion when I think he failed to do so. it was after one of his plays had been produced and while he was sitting at dinner next a lady who said to him, "I hope, Mr.James, that your play is a huge success." "My dear lady," he replied, "huge is not exactly the adjective, good as it is, that best describes the reception accorded my play; but, if I may, I will let you know the appropriate one later". After dinner she said to a friend of mine, Charles Boyd Robertson, of Foreign Office, "Henry James is most amusing to-night, although he doesn't know it; he's searching for an adjective." At last, James came up to her and solemnly boomed in her ear, "The word is wonderful"
p.52

I liked the life I lived
Some reminiscences by Eveleigh NASH
London, 1941