Lipton’s Journal/January 20, 1955/208

The night Bob spoke about Styron^[1] being through as a writer, I have the suspicion he was unconsciously talking to me directly, for I know he was deeply worried about me. Juan Bilbao talking to Bette Ford about Pat McCormick^[2] being through was actually warning Bette, and gloating over her future downfall with the part of him that hates Bette for all the abuse she gives him. As a general clue it might be worth noting when we hear a person talking over and over about how someone is through which of the people in the room (including the speaker) is really meant.

notes

↑ One of Mailer’s closest literary friends in the early 1950s, Styron (1925-2006) became famous with his first novel, Lie Down in Darkness (1951). Mailer admired it, and also The Long March (1956). Their friendship collapsed over a demeaning comment Styron allegedly made about Adele, and they remained estranged until the mid-1980s.
↑ Mailer met this trio at bullfights in Mexico. Ford (b. 1937), and Patricia McCormick (1929-2013) were the first American women bullfighters. Don Juan Bilbao was their manager.

[1] One of Mailer’s closest literary friends in the early 1950s, Styron (1925-2006) became famous with his first novel, Lie Down in Darkness (1951). Mailer admired it, and also The Long March (1956). Their friendship collapsed over a demeaning comment Styron allegedly made about Adele, and they remained estranged until the mid-1980s.

[2] Mailer met this trio at bullfights in Mexico. Ford (b. 1937), and Patricia McCormick (1929-2013) were the first American women bullfighters. Don Juan Bilbao was their manager.

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