Letter: Brought to book in a fine mess

RE YOUR piece on university library fines by Rod Minchin and Emma Hallett (News, 8 January).

In September 1962, whilst still in short pants, I took a book out of the Fine Art Department of Edinburgh Public Library on George IV Bridge. As I recall, this went missing in a house move. After the demise of both my parents, I was clearing some boxes out of the attic, and found it. Like Philip Larkin, I should, of course, blame my mum and dad for this, if only because (a) they did the packing, and (b) they can’t answer back. In fact, the debt was honourably dealt with – I distinctly remember my mother, who seemed to assume I’d left it on the bus, complaining bitterly because she’d been obliged to stump up the cover price of the book in question (The Paintings Of Goya) – 3/6d was a lot of money in 1962 for people like us.

This means it isn’t technically stolen property so I won’t be needing the services of Donald Findlay QC, which is a relief, but even so I feel it is public property and, having seen a brilliant, if spooky, play about an unreturned library book two festivals ago (Under The Lintel), I plan to return it to the City Library on the due date, 22 September.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Not that I’m best friends with them. When they put on an exhibition of books relating to the Scottish Parliament a few years back I was informed that my own effort in this regard (All The First Minister’s Men) had been excluded. I wrote in to ask why, and was told that it was much too critical, and the spin had to be positive. Friends who like to take the rip out of me have pointed out that in the recent National Library of Scotland “banned books” exhibition, there was no reference to this shameful episode, thus I fit into that rare category – an author whose banned book has been banned from an exhibition of banned books.

On reflection, maybe I’ll just bin their overdue book.

David Black, via email

Related topics: