] I had always refused to buy Park Honan's book because of the title, which I found very Lady C, as in "The Definitive Portrait...." There are other extremely good works, and none of them claim to be the definitive work ;)

LOL! Yes the title is very Lady C. But I think you should try reading it, especially since you own it. Like you I received this book as a gift. I agree with Leif G-N, that Honan's habit of piecing together small details to make a realistic picture is irritating because it inadequately distinguishes between fact and conjecture. However, I also agree with Leif that sometimes the pictures Honan creates with his rather irritating technique can be illuminating.