SIR,—In your issue of November 18 Mr. Francis Watson, reviewing
Mr. Chapman Mortimer's book Here is Spain, and referring to its dust-cover, which shows a battered, deserted electricity station, asserts that the latter is 'Spanish to the last flake of sun- warmed plaster.' Now, why should an old, out-of-use electricity station be more Spanish than one of the new plants, of which there are so many in my country? Is it not because so many writers, amongst them apparently Mr. Watson, seem to have made up their minds that Spain must be synonymous with decay, and obdurately close their eyes to all facts con- trary to this view? Is there not something un- fair, one might easily be tempted to say not quite honest, in this way of trying to influence the reader's mind with an arbitrarily chosen cover?
As to the book itself, I have no comment to offer except that it is in keeping with the cover. In any case, please remember that it is easy at any time and anywhere to find and photograph a crumbling wall and a heap of rubble.—Yours faithfully,
RAMON MARTIN HERRERO Cultural Counsellor
Spantsh-Embassy, London, SW 1
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