or in the longer chapters where i said to myself, let's imagine i can have a life of herman melville, but it don't have to really do any research, or know anything. and i can go anywhere. i can say what melville is thinking when he meets this handsome young sailor. you know, so for me it's that imagine freedom i was seeking. and so i can't even in my straight biographies, try to imagine the life and really say what did it smell like, feel like to be in that life? i've really done original research except for my new biography of jesus where i interviewed everybody. [laughter] that was a lot of fun. market was a real bitch. [laughter] but matthew i could sort of take. luke -- john was really crazy. spend what was the highlight? >> all, god. [laughter] it was the dress i couldn't take. but, you know, i also do think going back to the original topic of a biography as autobiography, it's interesting how the genres cross. i never forget years ago sitting with gore vidal, two friends of mine in austria, having lunch and gore said in his super silly way, what are you working on now my dear? s