Cultural Writing. "Mina Curtiss is not only uniquely informative, especially about Proust, whom she knew intimately without ever knowing; she is also an original author on her own - caring, interesting, original, and personal with never a word too many" --Ned Rorem. "The tales of her friendships--with Harold Nicolson, Vita Sackville-West, May Sarton, and George Balanchine--stud this little book like jewels and make it glitter"--Nancy Mitford, The New York Times.