3 AUGUST 1956, Page 18

'PARIS ALBUM'

SIR,—Having been a book reviewer MYs for more than a quarter of a centUrY, know the difficulties and hardships of professional reviewer's life and do not to seem unduly cantankerous in my attial towards a fellow critic. Nevertheless I fc that I must protest against Miss Virg Graham's enthusiastic review of Cocteau's Paris Album, translated by Miss Margaret Crosland, in your issue of July 20. She describes the book as 'faultlessly trans- lated,' when, in fact, it contains some extremely Obvious and elementary mistranslations. On Page 114, for example, we are told that a famous French tragedian received his 'courte- sans' while he lay abed. In fact, he received his courtiers.' De Max, judging by Cocteau's por- trait, was not an ardent votary of the demi- monde.—Yours faithfully, PETER QUENNELL 465 Eaton Square, SW