I too am interested when people bend over backwards to explain or excuse bad behavior in artists, rich people, politicians, sports figures, what have you. I think it speaks to human insecurity and how we obviously need to believe anything or anyone we like is all good and all pure.

I think you can respect someone's output while still being honest about them sometimes being jerk. It seems dishonest to me to behave otherwise. If art could only be created by wonderful people with no failings--well, there wouldn't be a whole lot of art around.

Fascinating to learn about Salinger not being a big author in the UK. He's sold so many books I rather imagined he did well everywhere. But wow. He must just have sold A LOT of books in America.

Thanks for commenting!