As an American long resident here, I find more sense, more wisdom in Alistair Cooke's reports about my country than in any other single point of view. Quentin Letts ("Please spare us this golf club bore", 20 November) criticises Cooke for his "patrician" accent. Would he have him speaking Geordie? Cooke "hardly examines" such things as "rap music, youth culture, anti-crime initiatives, fashion, food". True. Cooke gives them the treatment they deserve, turning to his task of illuminating the American scene rather than merely reporting it. Urbanity, subtlety and civilised humour are beyond such as the bitter and ignorant Letts, whose real complaint is that Cooke is guilty of being old.

John McCormick
York

Long may Alistair Cooke continue! I heard the broadcast about the mid-term elections to which Quentin Letts objected so strongly. What a refreshing change it was to hear an in-depth analysis given in a detached manner, in place of the pro-Republican sound-bites we get from the other BBC and ITN correspondents over there. The elections were important; Clinton will not now be impeached. Thus a carefully orchestrated plot to even the score for Nixon will fail.

Perhaps when Cooke does retire your own Andrew Stephen should take over?

Richard Madeley
University of Nottingham

Who is Quentin Letts? Will he be writing for the New Statesman in 50 years' time? Or even next week?

P Jefferys
London N10

Post your comment

Please note: you will need to login or register before you can comment on the website