Jacques Barzun and Friend: WHAT DID A DISTINGUISHED HISTORIAN, AND POSSIBLY A GREAT MAN, SEE IN AN UNKEMPT YOUNG WOULD-BE WRITER?

The author discusses the friendship he formed with U.S. historian Jacques Barzun. He describes Barzun as one who personified prestige, authority, and self-confidence. He also mentions several issues that he and Barzun discussed over the duration of their friendship, including philosophy, war, governmental policies, and race discrimination, as well as the possibility that Barzun made him his source on trending events in culture.