BLOOMSBURY

Although it appeared a few weeks ago, a remark by reviewer Chris Goodrich to the effect that the late Allan Bloom had a “crabbed, elitist view of higher education” still grieves me (“An Aristocracy for Everyone,” Jan. 24).

If Mr. Goodrich ever met or spoke to Professor Bloom, I’ll eat my hat. No one-- no one --who ever met Allan Bloom would ever make such a remark. And his former students could entertain Mr. Goodrich for hours about Bloom’s wit, genuine concern for their lives and minds, and his willingness to talk about the very substance (or lack of it) of every idea.

As for “elitist,” I don’t know what Goodrich means. But I do know that Bloom was born the son of social workers, which is not precisely the aristocracy.

DEREK W. HUNT

LOS ANGELES