Until I read Victoria Glendinnings fine biography about Leonard last year, I was totally unaware of what a front runner, in fact possibly THE front runner he was in regards to writing about International Affairs, ultimately becoming well respected writer on these issues as well as an adviser to Government. Again when Woolf is talking 'business' as opposed to his personal life there is a cooler tone.

The Woolf's lived in a very interesting times both creatively, politically, internationally and historically. Leonard is very interesting on giving smaller details (as well as the more important ones) of experiences he had within all these areas. Sometimes little things that give you an incite into the people he is describing.

In this volume he also marries Virginia, and has some inciteful and interesting things to say about their life together and her creative mind, as well as her health and mental problems.

The primary flaw is too many diversions. I enjoy taking diversions or going slightly off the chronology, but in this volume especially Woolf does it to such an degree that when we get back to the chronology he has run out of things to put because he has told the stories earlier, and therefore is left to repetition or referal. ( )