25 OCTOBER 1969, Page 41

Smuggled goods

Sir: Mr Hingley (Letters, 11 October) chides me and my English co-translator with the fact that 'love-girl' is hardly an English expression. Can I tactfully point out to Mr Hingley that shalashovka is not a Russian expression? It is a made-up word which has to be translated by another made-up word.

We did not provide an introduction to the play for one reason, and one reason alone. We are informed that Mr Solzhenitsyn does not like introductions or commentaries being added to his translated work. He has no control over such material, nor can com- mentators refer it to the author in Russia for his approval. To present the naked text is

less risky for all concerned. David Burg

63 Drayton Gardens, London sw10