Stylish Waughs, father and son
Sir : I am sorry that there appears to be something of a fashion at present for sniping at Mr Auberon Waugh. His contributions in the form of book reviews in your journal are quite outstandingly stylish. Moreover, they include a bonus in the form of basic instruction in the essentials of novel-writing.
When Mr Waugh says that it is usually a mistake for writers to have their portraits published, especially on their works, he is expressing a self-evident truth, since the eye of the imagination is always more flattering than the lens of the camera. This view is not invalidated because Mr Waugh also suffers from being illustrated, as I am sure he would be the first to admit. It may also be true that his father was unprepossessing in appearance and had some ludicrous social attitudes. But it is also the case that, like Auberon, Evelyn wrote a truly beautiful prose. We, the readers, therefore have reason to be grateful to both father and son, and, sir, to you.
Royston Millmore Fox Brow, Clayton, Bradford.
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