Red faces at Frances Lincoln, distinguished publishers of illustrated children’s books and of the celebrated fellwalker Arthur Wainwright. A new book, My Dear Hugh: Letters from Richard Cobb to Hugh Trevor-Roper, edited by Prince Philip’s biographer Tim Heald, has had to be pulped because it contained so many errors.
Three weeks ago biographer Jeremy Lewis pointed out a number of howlers: “Goronwy Rees (d 1970) is reported to still be with us at the age of 104; Graham Greene’s mistress, Catherine Walston, was renamed ‘Caroline’; reference is made to ‘Corpus Christie’, Oxford …”
Then historian Noel Malcolm also criticised Heald for what he calls an “appallingly slapdash job ... If letters were delivered from beyond the grave, the next one to reach Tim Heald would consist entirely of protesting capitals and furious underlinings.”
Between 800 and 1,000 copies have had to be destroyed and a corrected version will be published.
“Frances Lincoln are reprinting the book — incorporating my corrections and a good many others provided by indignant readers,” says Lewis. “It’s not clear whether they’re doing so to meet an unexpected demand, or because they feel so embarrassed by the first impression and want to be shot of it.”
Publisher John Nichol, an Oxford pupil of Cobb, confesses it is a huge embarrassment.
“There were a colossal amount of errors which we should have corrected,” he admits. “It will be fixed."
Then historian Noel Malcolm also criticised Heald for what he calls an “appallingly slapdash job ... If letters were delivered from beyond the grave, the next one to reach Tim Heald would consist entirely of protesting capitals and furious underlinings.”
Between 800 and 1,000 copies have had to be destroyed and a corrected version will be published.
“Frances Lincoln are reprinting the book — incorporating my corrections and a good many others provided by indignant readers,” says Lewis. “It’s not clear whether they’re doing so to meet an unexpected demand, or because they feel so embarrassed by the first impression and want to be shot of it.”
Publisher John Nichol, an Oxford pupil of Cobb, confesses it is a huge embarrassment.
“There were a colossal amount of errors which we should have corrected,” he admits. “It will be fixed."