Brickbat for Jenkins
Sir: May I protest against Clive Jenkins' review of Eric Silver's book on Vic Feather (October 6)? Surely readers of The Spectator are entitled to expect that the reviews it publishes are both literate and relevant. Clive Jenkins' was neither. How can 'movements' be described as "difficult, awkward bodies"? What On earth can 'decimate' mean in the sentence "market and changing technology combine to ,decimate ancient and honourable organisations"? And ''the argument over whom (sic) should represent most of the white collar Workers" can only leave one with the hope that Mr Jenkins won't!
And how relevant is the 'information that Jenkins " has never realy forgiven Barbara Castle for alleging that the defeat of 'In Place of Strife' was based u, Pon a book which I co-authored"? (In neaven's name, how does one coauthor a book?!). What place has a vitriblic and unmannerly attack upon George Woodcock have in a review of a book about Vic Feather? The exPression "elevates craft and regional. unioniam in a genuflection to past struggle" .suggests an imperfect acquaintance with human anatomy, and does a "simplistic view" mean anything more than a "simple view"? , 'intoxicated with the exuberance of nis own verbosity," and a somewhat uneducated verbosity at that, Mr Jenkins' review tells us little more than that he has a higher regard for Mr tenkins than for either Mr Silver or Mr
eather. Well, there's no accounting for tastes!
H. Justin Evans Glebe House, Church Stretton, Salop.
Previous page
