THE ART OF REVIEWING
SIR,—In more than half a column of The Spectator (May 24th) Kate O'Brien calls Auto-da-Fe " appalling," " magnificent," " unbearable," "mad," "practically indescribable." She also describes, at some length and quite irrelevantly, four strangers she noticed at lunch and didn't like the look of. But practically the only facts she gives about Elias Canetti's novel are that its hero is " a kind of genius " and that it was written ten years ago. " Reviews " that tell one nothing are becoming all too common (though not, so far, in The Spectator). I do wish reviewers would remember that what the reader wants is a lucid, objectively critical summary of the chief. characteristics of a book (especially a new book), giving .him a reliable idea of the sort of book it is, what it is about and whether he would like.it. Exposition of the reviewer's personal views and emotions (particularly when unsupported by any evidence)' are of no practical value, even though they may be displays of fine writing.—Yours,
" Stirnmerleas," lordans, Beaconsfield, Bucks. LAURENCE YGLESIAS.
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