As Virgilia wrote from China, “Of course, these are not original discoveries, but they are very surprising when encountered personally.”
I’ve been told that the proof-reading and editing stage often takes longer than writing a manuscript. I sure hope not. But it’s already brought several surprises.
The biggest to date is the photo from her Broadway Mansions apartment on The Bund. For years I have labeled it “View of The Bund.” But during this proof-reading phase, I let my nagging worries rip. The Bund faces the Whangpoo River (1946 spelling) which is so wide, Virgilia said it was like a harbor. A little research, and voilà, I found a photo probably taken from the rooftop of the same hotel of Soochow Creek (more 1946 spelling). Virgilia devoted hours to watching the “singing stevedores” loading and unloading cargo from the sampans that crammed the creek, and the photo is still marvelous.
I just hope there are no other big surprises lurking- publication is really, really close!