Forbes faulted
Sir: Alastair Forbes (28 January) states that High Diver reproduces only one of Michael Wishart's paintings: a closer study might have revealed to him the portrait of Nureyev facing p.162. This is mere nitpicking — and I hesitate to compete with your reviewer at his own game — but it illustrates the scant attention paid to the book by one concerned less with it than with showing off.
Forbes's stories about, or swipes at, Nancy Mitford, Sir Christopher Soames, Truman Capote, Lady Beaverbrook et al have nothing to do with Wishart's text. Nor do his revelations about Anne Dunn's finances and Thom Gunn's proclivities meet all of Nanny's criteria: 'Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary?' Fortunately, however, the piece is well-nigh unreadable, so inert are its construction and syntax. Anxious to prove that he knows more and better than Wishart, and reluctant to leave any indiscretion unsaid, Forbes botches together his relative clauses so clumsily that one searches almost in vain for the relief of a full-stop. Forbes atumplains of Wishart's style that it periodically resembles that of Nigel Dempster. This should surely be cause for congratulation from one who cannot aspire to the conciseness and clarity of either writer.
The sight of a windbag tilting at windmills is really rather sad, and it might have been kinder to have kept it under wraps. But you are perhaps to be congratulated, Sir, on filling so much space so cheaply.
John Byrne 6 Sunningdale Gardens, Stratford Road, London W8
Previous page
