Javier Marías | Michael Howard vs. Sir Michael Howard

Dear Ms Lark:

I wonder if you could convey to Mr. Priestley my thanks for revealing in his remarks on Javier Marías' Tomorrow in the Battle Think on Me the source of the title and the subsequent quotes in the book.

I really was racking my brains and was pretty close but not quite. I thought I was going to have to try to find a copy of Chimes of Midnight in the hopes that would give me a clue.

However I am not sure I agree with Priestley's interpretation of the interest of the book. It is a great story and keeps you reading but I don't think the book is about Marta and Victor and about Eduardo etc. but dissolution and disappearance.

In other words, to speak less euphemistically, death. Also about the possible absence of meaning in life.

But it is a fairy-tale and has a happy ending in spite of Marías' taste for killing off the women. Sincerely yours and Mr. Priestley's,

I note in the review of this book The First World War by Michael Howard.

The second paragraph starts "Sir Howard --- the author of the present tome..." I would like to point out that if you are not using a titled person's full name i.e., "Sir Michael Howard," then it is more correct to refer to their title and christian name. In this case you should have said "Sir Michael."

Thank you for making the review available, I found it interesting.