October 1, 1999

Edward Said's Origins Prompt Investigation

To the Editor:

Despite her last-minute effort to obtain factual confirmation on three issues, Chronicle reporter Jennifer K. Ruark's e-mail message to me was waylaid in cyberspace until after her article was published in the September 3 issue (Hot Type). I would therefore like to clarify three important points regarding Ms. Ruark's otherwise useful introduction to the controversy concerning the intellectual honesty of Edward Said.

First, the scope of my