 David Irving[Photo by Michael Hentz, for The
New York Times]Letter to Herbert Mitgang of
The Chicago
Tribune |
London, April 23, 1996 I
AM SO SORRY that you never got the chance to review my book
Goebbels.
Mastermind of the Third Reichin the media
(although perhaps even now you may, as there is a much
larger US publisher waiting in the wings who has asked about
rights in the work). I respect your views, and well remember
the horror with which Alan Williams, my editor at Viking,
said, as he picked me up at Idlewild in 1977, "Herbert
Mitgang has trashed the book in the NYT ."
(Title Springtime for Hitler, if I recall). You are the
Clive Barnes of the literary profession: a scourge, but
always entertaining to read.
Having said that, may I plead for an open mind when you read
Goebbels ? I will send you the proper book by
separate mail, with my compliments, if you,will give me an
address; the illustrations particularly are worth studying.
I feel as though I have been sandbagged by St
Martin's Press -- having first been subjected to a
mugging by the masked (i.e., anonymous) critics of
PW , Kirkus , and the
Library Journal . -- Incidentally, did you
really speak with me here in 1977? Or was that poetic
licence? I have no recollection of having met you whatever,
and more's the pity, as they say.
Yours faithfully,
David Irving |
David Irving 1998