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Article: BOOK REVIEW
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- May 21, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1994 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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IN FEBRUARY 1949 George Barnes made a mistake. Instead of a
letter, he sent his old friend John Betjeman a blank piece of
paper. Back came the reply. "Dear Commander," it ran, "I held the
blank paper you sent me to the fire and do not think you need be
worried at all by the message that came out in the invisible ink.
Of course, when you are in America and entirely on your own you do
find certain inclinations running away with you. Give them free
play while you are there, but only so far as your conscience will
allow, though it looks to me as though your conscience has allowed
considerable latitude already." Barnes was the respected Head of
Talks at the BBC, where this letter caused maximum ...