On the necessity to, when reviewing a known friend’s work’, slip in at least one adverse remark.
This might be compared to Arab artists and craftsmen of deliberately introducing an imperfection into their work so that they should not be thought to be trying to put themselves on a level with God. Alternatively, it could be seen as the bit you put in to show that you and the other fellow were not buggering each other.
— Kingsley Amis, from The Memoirs; this can be found at the end of the chapter on Anthony Powell.



















