Eoq .t;oc '6 o oaz ! a @ c.,l G' N Yo s(u JaA MAN OF MANYWORDS reelance journalist and author Joshua Kendall is a self-confessed "word nerd." So Kendall, 48, is the ideal author to tackle the story of Peter Mark Roget in ft k mo fnae lS: l.rle Ec!ilt, ttramlq rrl fhqeer Cb|nfs ficerd (Rrtnen $25.95).</p><p> An Engdish scholar, Roget's insights on hurnan vision played a role in the irwention of the movies.</p><p> His instinct for organizing knowledge resulted in acclaimed works.</p><p> His masterBiece, Roget's Thesaurus, is a reference that became so popular his name is now synonymous with synonyms.</p><p> With your strong background in psychology, rvere you drawn to the life of Roget in part because of the suicide, madnesJand depression that stalked his family and friends?That was certainly enticing.</p><p> I have a piece in this month's Psychology Today about obsessive-compulsive personality disorder - people who are obsessed with rules and lists and have a strong moral sense.</p><p> Roget had that obsessionality.</p><p> There was all this madness around him and he had his own touch of madness, but he found this perfect solution, wNch was to channel his energy into Ihis thesaurus].</p><p> I never used a thesaurus as a k'rd because I thought sf it as dreating.</p><p> Roget wanted to help you think about things more deeply.</p><p> He didn't want to give you a shortcut.</p><p> Sylvia Plath called herself Roget's strumpet.</p><p> Roget was a pretty dull kid - withdrawn, few friends, staying in hisloom making lists.</p><p> I loved his adolescent diary.</p><p> He himself had problems saying what he meant.</p><p> That was one of my most exciting finds.</p><p> Oh my God, this guy needs a thesaurus! He dill llen a transfionnatbn and becane a liuely daRcer, a ooawrsatlonal- ist and om of the mo6t ellidHe badrelors h londen.</p><p> How did t|tb happen? I think basically he got away from his mother. [Laughs.] After his uncle [committed suicidel, Roget's mother went crazy, but that somehow freed up Roget to build up his own life.</p><p> What's your fayodte synonym for the word 'thesaurus?" Let's see. "Treasure house," I think.</p><p> Michael Giltz
