14 FEBRUARY 1976, page 24

Aborted

Noel Barber Operation Menace Arthur Marder (Oxford University Press, £7.50) Ever since the Second World War, Churchill has been castigated for the pathetic attempt in September......

Crying Wolf Quentin Bell

Gambart, Prince of the Victorian Art World Jeremy Maas (Barrie and Jenkins, £8.50) At first sight it would appear that Mr Maas has hit e ivon the easiest and most rewarding of......

Academe

Peter Ackroyd The Pleasure of the Text Roland Barthes (Jonathan Cape. £2.50) M. Barthes, for all his great reputation, is the great bowdleriser of French criticism, a writer who......