26 OCTOBER 1962, Page 17

SIT— Listening to the BBC on Saturday night (20 October) I

heard two critics each reviewing a new book which I found the following morning that he and she had also reviewed for the Observer and the 'uncfaV Times respectively. The integrity of the re- viewers and the literary editors involved on this occasion is not for one moment questioned by me; but l suspect that these 'coincidences' are better avoided. There arc sceptical people who talk about cliques and rackets and log-rolling; and I believe that it is a sound principle that a new book should receive a fresh scrutiny whenever it is reviewed.

Garrick Club, WC2 DEREK HUDSON