These are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright The Group © 1963, 1954 and renewed 1982 by Mary McCarthy and renewed 1991 by James Raymond West, The Company She Keeps © 1942, 1941, 1939 and renewed 1970, 1969, 1967, Birds of America © 1965, 1970, 1971 by Mary McCarthy

Chapters 11 and 12 appeared originally in the New Yorker in somewhat different form; one chapter appeared in Partisan Review, and one in Avon Book of Modern Writing No. 2.

The author wishes to acknowledge with thanks the grant of a Guggenheim Fellowship, which was helpful to her during the writing of this book.

Cover design by Tracey Dunham

This edition published in 2016 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

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New York, NY 10038

www.openroadmedia.com

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