Submitted by Edward Moran, Apr 2, 2007 16:28

Did Daniel Doneson nod, or did Hugh Brogan, or was it an eclipse at The Sun's copy desk that led to the--er, solecism in your March 28 review, "Tocqueville Regained"? The phrase "Ancient Regime" seems an odd rendering into English of a French expression that suggests "former" (pre-1789) and that is best kept untranslated. A survey of relevant titles in the New York Public Library's research collection reveals several usages of "Old Regime" but none of "Ancient Regime."

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