The 5th Novel

[Burgess, John]

I can't quite agree with your assessment that "exact details of time and 
place are not critical." Unless you've abandoned that ole cause-effect 
process, the exact details of what happened first have a rather important 
bearing.

Oddly, too, (another detail, I know), the textile mills along the Conn. 
River in Mass. stayed largely wool-oriented... cotton didn't really play 
a part.  Even more passing strange, they also tended to specialize in 
alpaca and vicuna wools. South America rather than the American South 
might prove a more fruitful (American Fruit-Gum?) connection.  TRP has 
been largely silent on the American South (#5 maybe?) so Gaddis proves a 
richer guide to that terrain.

Regards.