Book titles

A number of reviewers - and most of the reviews have been generally favourable - criticised the title 'Massacre in Malaya: Exposing Britain's My Lai'. They point out that book is not exclusively about the Batang Kali massacre (a misnomer in any case) and that the murder of 24 Chinese villagers in Malaya is not comparable to the killing of nearly two hundred civilians in 'My Lai'.

I can't disagree.

The original title of the book - which was suggested by literary agent Peter Robinson - was 'The War without a Name'. In their wisdom the publisher who eventually took the book wanted something more 'dramatic'.

Hence 'Massacre in Malaya'. A shame.