First published by Random House, 1964 

The idea for Elkin’s first novel was sparked by a colleague at WashU who told him an anecdote about the famous eighteenth century biographer and diarist James Boswell. It sparked an idea for a modern con man and professional wrestler with the same name who starts a club for celebrities. Elkin’s Boswell hopes some of their popularity will rub off on him, thereby achieving his own slice of immortality in the process.