There and then
Sir: Am I alone amongst your readers in wondering why the Spectator is not a bit closer to the here and now? In the front half last week, your correspondents write from Belfast, Belize, Paris, Picardy, Geneva, and Russia, apart from Auberon Waugh in his fever (when is he not in a fever?) In the back half, the book titles specify the eras of interest as 1917-1961, 1533-1588, 19401945 , 1500-1900, and the Life and Times of Edward I (I don't know his dates, but I do know they are not recent).
Is there not just a touch of living in the past, and showing interest in far-away countries of which we know almost nothing at all? And dodging most of the issues on which some of us would like to know more before we risk standing up to be counted? Are you sure you're not playing the szigoglimoscoter while Rome burns?
Don Peters 32 Newman Street, London W1
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