To all who commented:
Thank you all for your advice and information. My bookish hero cites Sentimental Education and La Dame. At first, I didn't think that Samson and Delilah were suitable - but then I remembered that my hero was brought up as a Methodist, and Biblical phrases often comes spontaneously to him. So S&D are also briefly cited.
I've written 12,000 words now, and I'm enjoying it.
|