"LIFE OF THE KING."

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19667, 10 July 1929, Page 4

"LIFE OF THE KING."

* A CANCELLED BOOK. INACCURATE BUT NOT OFFENSIVE. (mom ova ows cobmsposdkht.) LONDON, May 29. It was recently reported that a "Life of the King," by "A Gentleman of England" had been cancelled, not because the manuscript was offensive, but on the ground of its inaccuracy in important respects. "Early this year," said Mr Raymond Savage, "1 was asked to undertake negotiations for the publication of the book. Nobody was to know the name of the author for two reasons—first, because apparently the author d'd not want his name mentioned, and, secondly, that the nom de plume of 'A Gentleman of England' was considered to be an intriguing one. "I undertook the agency on the assurance that the work would be read privately by someone in Court circles, who would ensure that there was noth- j ing in it which was in the slightest bad taste or likely to intrude upon his Majesty's privacy. I most carefully had a clause inserted in the agreement with Messrs Hutchinson and Company guaranteeing that 'the said work will not be libellous. . . . and it not contain anything scandalous or which may cause offence to his or any other member of the Royal Family.' Source of Information. "I was privately informed this week that while there was nothing wh itever offensive in it, the manuscript was net what it was alleged to be. that it was inaccurate, and that it was not by 'A Gentleman of England.' My source of information was unimpeachable and I instantly cancelled the contracts as far as I was concerned and went straight to Mr Walter Hutchinson and advised inm that he also should have nothing further to do with the matter." Correct>'ng certain untrue statements which have appeared in newspapers, Mr Savage said: "The book was not objected to in any way because it was offensive, but because it was inaccurate and apparently detailed incidents and conversations which in fact never took place The book was never offered to Messrs Hodder and Stoughton, but exclusively to Messrs Hutchinson. It was, I am 6ure. never seen by his Majesty, it was not 100 000 words in length, "and the statement that sums running into five figures had been paid is ouite untrue. "Immediately I was informed of the obj'ections to the work I cancelled all contracts and cabled to America pro- j hibiting publication in that country "