LORDS OF THE SHAMBLES SIR,—Reviewing two books about the First
World War in your issue of July 28, Mr. James Cameron opens by declaring that continuing public interest (described as obsessional) in that war strikes him as 'very odd,' and he concludes that 'indeed it' (First World War presumably—grammar shaky) 'is long ago and far away, and it just doesn't matter any more.'
Mr. Cameron emerges as a myopic person for whom any event before his time, even a world-wide and catastrophic event, is too distant to have mean- ing. 1 get the impression that the myopia is self- induced through giving way to the prejudices of a generation. It is, of course, Mr. Cameron's business whether or not he indulges such prejudice regardless of the danger to his intelligence. His personal choice is not in question. But another choice is. Why do you select Mr. Cameron in particular, from the large number of your contributors, to pass judgment on nooks about the past?
CHRISTOPHER SYKES
[James Cameron. writes: 'One man's view is an- other man's myopia. I am ready to share my Prejudices with Mr. Sykes. Let him worry about the First World War while I worry about the next. I wondgr what generation he thinks I belong to, any- way?'—Editor, Spectator.]
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