My recent research into the efficacy of goat glands caused me to remember monkey glands, and so I went to the bookshelves here to look up something. Gene Fowler (1890-1960) was a well-known newspaper reporter, raconteur, and Hollywood publicist, during the earlier half of the last century. My father had all of his books, although by the time I came along, they were old books. The first book I ever read by Fowler was a biography of the famous actor John Barrymore, which was tough going for an 11-year-old. I didn't think any book could possibly be more dreadful than...