This book contains tremendous erudition and intelligence, blistering scorn for mediocrities and frauds, tenderness for a few favourites and irony at its most shapely and elegant. Richard Davenport-Hines, Literary Review Raphaels intelligence and acerbic wit are undiminished. Whether youve lived through most of the years covered in Last Post or not youll be bound to find these letters to the dead who cannot answer back immensely entertaining. Brian Martin, The Spectator Praise for Frederic RaphaelA hilarious and disillusioned page-turner. Peter Green, The TLS Against the Stream offers many insights into Raphaels "double life". An American who made his career in Britain. A Jew who went to Charterhouse and Cambridge. A Hollywood script-doctor who read Ancient Greek for fun.

Vain, sharp-tongued, but the sort of truth-teller Britain needed then and needs now. David Herman, Standpoint In these notebooks, Raphael shows himself alert to every vanity but his own, a shortcoming that, far from repelling a reader, becomes part and parcel of the their fascination. He is one of those writers who most reveals himself in his acerbic anatomy of others. Anthony Quinn, Telegraph Aphoristic, lapidary and sumptuously reflective by turns, Personal Terms is a joy to read both for Raphaels prose and mental powers. It is a book of iridescent intelligence, seductive charm, urbane temper and unflagging delight - indeed a minor masterpiece. Times Literary Supplement.