LETTERS
Give Burton his due

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Just to pick a couple more nits with the nit-picking article about the new translation of the Kamasutra by Drs. Doniger and Kakar ("Investigations," February/02). The Magazine's excerpts of the London Independent's interview gave the impression that Burton, in his 1883 translation of that lubricious text, attempted to de-emphasize the role of women, citing the Great G-Spot Controversy as evidence. Fiddlesticks. (1) As I read it, à la Victorian English, it has the same meaning as the contemporary authors', pivoting on the words, "on which." (2) The Kamasutra was written by a man of the male persuasion and is itself subject to the same vagaries and criticisms laid on Burton and his sources. (3) Give Burton his due: Sir Richard translated one of the hottest pieces of literature around-scandalous for its time-with the insight to know its innate power and beauty.

Sol Sepsenwol, SB'64, PhD'70
Stevens Point, Wisconsin

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I have killed too many brain cells to debate Augustine, iconography, or Fermi ("Letters," February/02). However, I consider the University of Chicago Magazine to be one of the most entertaining periodicals entering my household. How relieved I am to find that all my problems are attributable to sanscritical mistranslation errors by Richard Burton.

John C. Walton, MBA'74
Short Hills, New Jersey

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