ORCHARD'S BAY "
SIR,—I have carefully re-read Mr. Alfred Noyes's Orchard's Bay after the warm defence of the book by Mr. Charles Tennyson, and although my opinion of its literary valu, remains unchanged, I do feel that my admiration for the work of certain great writers pointed my words unfairly when I spoke of " a black spirit of denigration " and of Mr. Noyes being " bitter and uncharitable in his attack on those whom the world has preferred to himself." On a second reading I find that some of the passages which so forcibly struck me are capable of a different interpretation. Literary controversy is of small value if it does not sometimes break bones, but it may be of less value still if the critic is off and away after an imaginary enemy. I am quite ready to take Mr. Tennyson's word for it that I have read more into the book than it con- tains, and that my sharp reference to Mr. Noyes's religious position was unjustified, and I hope in return that Mr. Noyes will reconsider his reference to Yeats and his extraordinary estimate of Baudelaire as a lank and pallid specimen. Dead bones as well as living bones deserve defence.—Yours,
GRAHAM GREENE.
14 North Side, Clapham Common, S.W. 4.
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