NOBODY ‘OWNS’ MARILYN

Not only did Maurice Zolotow--even as your liner notes comment--”publish the first biography of Marilyn Monroe in 1960” and “is now completing a new book on her,” but he has also written a number of articles about her (including several for the Los Angeles Times). And to my knowledge, in that entire interim he has never had a good word to say for anyone else’s book(s) on Monroe. I still recall that in those early articles, he was extremely sour toward anyone who didn’t treat her “properly” or conform to his personal view of Monroe.

A judge is supposed to disqualify him/herself if acquainted in any way with participants in a trial he/she is to hear. Why not a similar structure for your critics?

DAVID R. MOSS

LOS ANGELES