[Richard Hoggart, author and cultural critic.] Typed Letter Signed from Paris, to Philip Dosse, explaining why, as ‘an international civil servant’, he cannot review for ‘Books and Bookmen’.

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. The recipient Philip Dosse (Hoggart addresses him as Dosse) was the proprietor of Hansom Books, which operated a stable of seven London arts magazines, including ‘Books and Bookmen’ and ‘Plays and Players’. 1p, 4to. In fair condition, slightly aged, worn and creased. Folded twice. Signed ‘Richard Hoggart’ (‘Assistant Director-General (Social Sciences, Human Sciences and Culture)’. He presumes that the letter with the copies of ‘Books and Bookmen’ was delayed by the French customs. The magazine has been enjoyed by Hoggart and his family, ‘especially our son Simon who is on The Guardian’. He also thanks him for sending ‘The Necessity for Love’ for review. ‘I am afraid, though, that I can’t do it. I have had to turn down all reviewing whilst I’m here. This is partly because it’s on the whole not greatly approved of in an international civil servant (I had to get special permission to do the Reith Lectures), and it’s also because my time is so hopelessly crowded that I’d be a very chancy reviewer. That’s one of the costs of being over her. There are others. And there are some compensations.’