20 DECEMBER 1957, Page 17

SIR,—I agree with most of Mr. David Astor's letter printed

in your issue of December 13, and especially with his last paragraph.

I have already drafted and torn up several letters to you, but now Mr. Astor's over-charitable letter encourages me to try and express as briefly and as temperately as I can my personal reactions to Mr. Bernard Levin's 'review' of Talking of Books. In my view it was a disgustingly vulgar, cheap and nasty personal attack upon a distinguished gentleman by someone who does not behave like one.

The editorial footnote to Mr. Astor's letter I can only describe as specious and contemptible,—Yours