`The Critics'
SIR.—In his rather jolly account of our telephone conversation. Mr. Alan Brien forgets to mention my telling him—quite clearly—that I did not wish Norman Mailer's An American Dream 40 be re- viewed by The Critics, because it was due to be revieWcd—farmore appropriately—on the BBC Third Programme. Having now read the book (which I admire), my decision seems to mc a correct one. Would Mr. Brien perhaps abolish all editorial decisions—including your own?
D. G. BRIDSON Programme Editor
Arts, Science and Documentary /MC, Broadcasting House, WI [Alan Brien writes: 'Mr. Bridson seems set on establishing some record as the BBC's champion non- reader. At the time of his decision he had read neither the book I wished to review nor the review I wished to broadcast. Now he has clearly failed to read the article I wrote as a result of that decision. My point was not that BBC Radio suppressed con- troversial opinions but that it sometimes shunted them off into holes and corners. Mr. Mailer is not after all a coterie writer—his Naked and the Dead sold two and a half million copies. As for editorial decisions, I would not abolish them but I would, and do, question them, whenever it seems appropriate:— Editor, Spectator.]
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