Letters to the editor

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For Ralph de Toledano

I met Ralph de Toledano only last year.

I had come back to Washington, after many years and was reading his book "Notes from the Underground" when I found this passage:

Oct. 18, 1960

Dear Ralph,

The Montero is marvelous. [I had sent him a recording of Germaine Montero reading Garcia-Lorca's "Lament on the Death of a Bullfighter," his greatest poem.] I scarcely expected at my time of life to have the kind of experience that occurs at my son's age: something new and wonderful, since what the young woman is saying in the tone (more than any words) is what has always been there. I thank you for bringing this young creto-iberienne to our house...

Whittaker

Suddenly, I had to meet him.