Sir, – How good it is to read Séamus Martin back in the paper of record ("Fall of the Soviet Union", August 15th). Over the years his reporting from the Soviet Union/Russia has been top-notch and opened up for us Irish Timesreaders that most complex of lands in the east.
His description of sipping brandy at his friend’s grave summed up visions for me of John Le Carré, snowy steppes and all the intrigue of the Russians. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. – Yours, etc,