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are probably laid upon it daily by worthier
students of Sir Walter. I have been
through 3 phases myself. 1. I was compelled to read
"Ivanhoe" & "the Talisman" for holiday tasks, & have
blessed the institution ever since, for I went straight
ahead & devoured the lot before I had been long at Eton.
2. I tried again at the age of ?30 - in
South Africa - & could make no headway at all.
3. Ten years later I made another effort, found
it no effort, (I think it was the Doctor who inspired me),
& am becoming more & more of an addict!
This chequered career gives me no claim to be a
critic, even if I could find anything to criticize,
but it gives me just enough to know how good
a book it is.

Yours ever

Geoffrey Dawson