Sacred Monsters

This is a parade of some of the most unforgettable characters of our time. Beginning with his childhood memories of Somerset Maugham, the author tells of encounters with Salvador Dali, Kenneth Tynan, Brendan Behan, Trevor Howard, Kingsley Amis, Joan Littlewood, and many others. The author defines "sacred monsters" as being individuals who are life-enhancers, who are more formidable than eccentrices and more rare. He sees them as characters who are larger than life, but since both Stalin and Ghenghis Khan share this quality, description is inadequate unless you add the vital element of fun which he believes all these characters possess.