PATTERN OF SEXUALITY IS ONE CONSTANTLY MET WITH IN GREEK LITERATURE AND BIOGRAPHY. I THEREFORE ADOPTED IT.

" IN MY VIEW IT IS A PRIMARY DUTY OF THE HISTORICAL NOVELIST TO MAKE HIS CHARACTERS PEOPLE OF THEIR ERA. THE WRITER WHO EXPLOITS A PERIOD SETTING FOR PROPAGANDA PURPOSES, DRAWING FALLACIOUS PARALLELS WITH HIS OWN SOCIETY, AT ONCE SACRIFICES HIS INTEGRITY NOT LESS THAN BY COMMERCIAL VULGARISING,

"IN THE KING MUST DIE, THE AMAZON BULL-GIRLS WHO ATTRACT THESEUS IN CRETE HAVE A RELEVANT PURPOSE: THEY FORESHADOW HIS FAMOUS LOVE-AFFAIR WITH HIPPOLYTA. THE AIM IS TO MAKE HIS YOUTH CON-

SISTENT WITH HIS LATER STORY. THESE REFERENCES ARE OF SLIGHT IMPORTANCE IN THE NOVEL AS A WHOLE, THE THEME OF WHICH IS PRIMITIVE KINGSHIP.

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"❘ HOPE YOU WILL NOT FEEL THESE CORRECTIONS TO BE PEDANTIC. MAKE THEM BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE FIRST LOYALTY OF ANY ARTIST MUST BE TO HIS BASIC HUMANITY AND TO HIS SENSE OF MAN'S PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE, HIS INFLUENCE, IF ANY, MUST BE THAT OF HIS WHOLE MIND AND BEING ON THAT OF THE READER. ASKED WHAT ARE YOU?' HIS SPONTANEOUS ANSWER WILL BE A WRITER' (OR PAINTER OR WHATEVER IT MAY GE) BECAUSE THIS IS THE FIRST INTENTION OF HIS WILL. IF IN THE PRACTISE OF HIS CRAFT HE CANNOT LEARN MATURITY ENOUGH TO RAISE HIS SIGHTS ABOVE MERE SELF-EXPRESSION, OR CONCERN FOR THE PUBLIC STATUS OF HIS OWN GROUP, OR EVEN SOCIAL REFORM, HE SUBMITS TO A CASTRATION OF HIS CREATIVE SELF FOR WHICH BOTH AS ARTIST AND HUMAN BEING HE WILL BE THE POORER ALL HIS LIFE."

MARY RENAULT, SOUTH AFRICA

"MAY REPLY TO J.R.G.'S LETTER PUBLISHED IN THE AUGUST LADDER? GRANTED, SHE HAS MADE SOME VALID CRITICISMS. SOME OF THE POETRY IS ADOLESCENT; SOME OF THE STORIES ARE BADLY WRITTEN. HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT MISS J.R.G. HAS SPENT MUCH TIME THINKING ABOUT THE SITUATION.

"AS A HOMOSEXUAL PUBLICATION WITH A LIMITED BUDGET THE LADDER IS SOMEWHAT BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL. FIRST, MANY GOOD OR POTENTIALLY GOOD WRITERS ARE AFRAID TO CONNECT THEMSELVES, EVEN

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