Byb, you are exactly right. I sat down with book in front of me and there you were already! A real coincidence though is that I started to look at the Alexandria Quartet last night as I thought there was something of Lawrence Durrell's itching at me. Couldn't find it - it may have been in the Avignon series.
I feel the way you do about The Nine Tailors - the best of the best.

dxb