This morning, Quidnunc's now-retired colleague, novelist Maeve Binchy, will be borne through the streets of Chicago, seated on a bed of flowers and cheered by crowds on the sidewalk. She is the sole occupant of the fourth float in the city's St Patrick's Day parade. Hailed as a Literary Guest of the Parade, she started her week in Chicago at lunch with Mayor Richard Daley in his office and continued through a series of book signings, interviews and parties (one of the largest of which was thrown by Bord Failte), to today's extravaganza. Maggie Daley, the mayor's wife, has the same name as a character in one Binchy novel who was killed off early on; it's always a topic of conversation when the two meet.
Binchy is promoting her book, Scarlet Feather, which has a section set in Chicago, a city she is very fond of. As an international figure, and indeed an author chosen by Oprah Winfrey's book club, a sure way to millions, the organisers were delighted to allocate her a float. The Chicago parade is much gayer, in all senses, and louder than the New York event, with such little clerical influence that it doesn't even pass the cathedral.