WITH THAT SAID, Notcurses can now acquire the default background from the terminal (this was not true when I wrote the book, sigh), and I fully support @akkarti

WITH THAT SAID, Notcurses can now acquire the default background from the terminal (this was not true when I wrote the book, sigh), and I fully support @akkartik's approach given this fact. Using NCALPHA_HIGHCONTRAST together with explicit reproduction of the user's chosen background is a complete and general solution to this problem, and I really ought update the book. Thanks, @akkartik!