THE APES OF GOD [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—Having just read Mr. P. W. Lewis's Apes of Cod, I would be glad of the opportunity to comment on one particular statement in the book, as I have no other means of defending myself from the unjust imputation contained in it. Mr. Lewis Juts seen fit to caricature Messrs. Osbert and Sacheverell *dwell and Miss Edith Sitwell in a verbose section of his book. It proved easy for him to insert sufficient details about such an exceptional family group to make the caricature of these quite serious writers recognisable, and it has been recognized by reviewers. But when I came across the assertion that they obtained publicity by paying " hard cash" to those who wrote about them, I remembered that I had written more about the fine work of the Sitwells in the Press than anybody else, and that I was also the author of a critical study, The Three Sit:rale, the publication of which early in 1927 marked the end of the phase of cheap jeering at these original artists. I put in not less than six months' hard and continuous work on the book. . The total of "hoard cash" I have received up to date amounts to £34 in royalties from my pub- hshers. I have, of course, never received or been offered any payment by Mr. Lewis's fellow-artists, incredible as this might seem to the author of Apes of God.—I am, Sir, &e., 116 Tufnell Park Road, N.7. R. L. MEcitoz.
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