Richard Acland [Sir Richard Thomas Dyke Acland, 15th Baronet], Liberal and Labour politician and a founder of CND.] Typed Letter Signed to Philip Dosse of Books and Bookmen, explaining in detail why he cannot write a review for him.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse was proprietor of Hansom Books, publisher of a stable of seven arts magazines including ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Plays and Players’. 1p, 4to. In good condition, lightly aged and worn. Folded twice for postage. In autograph: ‘Dear Philip Dossé [sic]’ and ‘Yours sincerely / Richard Acland’. He begins by thanking Dosse for his ‘most generous letter’ with regard to his autobiography ‘Four Years Hard Labour’, and for the offer of a free advertisement in ‘Books and Bookmen’, continuing: ‘But how sad. In return for all this kindness, alas, I cannot help. Sad experience has taught me that I cannot review books for a quite physical reason. As a child I resisted all attempts to read the instructions in the Meccano books; and now I can read to myself no faster than I can read aloud.’ He continues on this theme before announcing that his wife has broken her forearm, ‘and although she has no pain and has done a professional morning’s work as an architectural consultant, it does mean that I do for her a few things that she normally does for me. I’m so sorry to fail you when you offer so much.’ He is consequently returning ‘The Private Future’, ‘with real regret because, having spent nine minutes on the first six pages I can see that I should find it very interesting’.