I met Chris through our good friend Bill Issel. They co-edited a series on the U.S. in the 20th Century, and I wrote one of the books. What really touched me was the way he and Hazel comforted and supported me through the dreadful aftermath of a botched love affair in 1980. I followed Chris's life and his struggles through Bill, but finally in 2011, I went to see him in York. So many years had gone by, but Chris remembered me, and we had a lovely afternoon talking about the past, the present, and especially literature. He still had a lot of wit and intelligence, and the great gift of warm friendship. With love, Rochelle (Gatlin) of San Francisco.