1 MARCH 1940, Page 28

999 and All That. By Norman Riley. (Goilancz. 5s.)

THIS facetiously titled book is a scrappy and jocose history of the Ministry of Information. It is intended as an attack, but spoils what is—to say the least—an arguable case by being written exclusively from the point of view of the narrowest and least thoughtful type of journalist. All the old jokes which did such heroic service in the early weeks of the war are here paraded once again, and such constructive suggestions as are made are not remarkable for their wisdom. Its net effect is to make one transfer one's sympathies from a harassed Press to a harassed Ministry.