The reader blushes. He can't think of a good reason why he should like this particular production of his favorite author, and brush off the more popular run-through of the great author's literary method and critical stance, "Beyond Life." And yet the reader can't help but admit the truth: "Straws and Prayer-Books" is the better book. Why? Well, perhaps because it was written by a more mature writer. The self-indulgence of the author has now written its way through so many volumes of "The Biography of the Life of Manuel" that when, at the beginning of this book, the author argues with one of his characters -- also an author -- the reader finds this droll.

That's just the way it is. Literary opinions differ. There is no accounting for taste. And if one reader prefers an obscure book by a now-obscure author to a less-obscure book by that same author, who shall complain? I mean, today, who has standing?

So, there we are: a book designated as "diversions" diverts at least one reader. The present writer. "The literary artist plays." So begins the book, proper. And the reader, he plays too. at least: I play along. So might you. ( )