THIS AUTHOR'S favourite subjects for biography have been wits, and he has already written on Sydney Smith, William Gilbert, Henry Labouchère, Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde and Benjamin Disraeli. His seventh and last choice of famous wit is James McNeill Whistler, whose personality aroused more controversy in the art world of the nineteenth century than that of anyone else. WHISTLER is chiefly remembered today as an exquisite painter who revealed the twilight beauty of London's river to the world, and as one who revolutionized interior decoration. But in his own time he was mainly notorious of his mental and physical combats, for his cutting wit, violent quarrels, and devastating attacks on art critics and academic pundits. HESKETH PEARSON concentrates on Whistler's personality, shows how his nature was reflected in his art, tells the story of his extraordinary career, describes his quarrels, records his witticisms, explains the causes that made his character prone to conflict, and helps the modern reader to see the man as his friends and enemies who saw him. Having met several people who knew Whistler, the author is able to add fresh material to his portrait of the artist. Illustrated with 15 gravure plates.