Obsession
Sir: Supposing I were an expert on a subject of general interest (which I am not) and you wanted me to write a piece about if, would I get a letter something like this?
Dear Mr Stevens, I would like you to submit an article about the incidence of seventeenth-century unlisted buildings in the south-east of England. It should consist of 1,000 words, and I enclose a copy of our standard form of agreement. Please note carefully Clause No. 1, which is mandatory and requires all contributors to work in at least five per cent on how ghastly it would be if We were to join the Common Market. If you can't think of a way to make this flow naturally into your text our sub-editors, who are experts at this, will be pleased to do it for you.
I had better add, in order to give this letter a sporting chance of being published, that although, like all the other ordinary chaps who are going to make a cross, I do not know enough about it to have a worthwhile opinion, I expect it is quite right when you and most of your contributors say (ad nauseam) that if we stay in. the Common Market it will be awful.
E. P. Stevens PS: Apart from the obsession, I like your journal very much.
8 WoodWay, Boxgrove Lane, MerroW, Guildford
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