Tins is a witty and amusing book which its author
describes as " beginning an autobiography." It relates his life from childhood (he was born in 1908) until, at the age of twenty, he got a job as double bass player in a dance band. He is well known in musical circles as an unusually knowledgable and enlightened critic, but his individual judgement, his capacity to think for himself, his unorthodox and unconventional musical opinions and perhaps, above all, his ruthless vivacity have combined to prevent his frequent appearance in the duller and more important newspapers. It is no accident that the nickname "Spike" has stuck to him until it has virtually superseded his own name of Patrick. As an Irish- man, son to the late Herbert Hughes, collector of Irish folk-songs and for many years musical critic to the Daily Telegraph, " Spike" Hughes combines the gay liveliness of his race with the rare passionate seriousness of a born music-lover, and it will be music- lovers who will enjoy this unusual book most. Yet it is entertaining enough to delight readers of every kind except the pompous, the dull and those who mistake a light touch for radical frivolity. Mr. Hughes is often frivolous about himself, but he is deeply serious, even when most amusing, about music.
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