PURVIEW OF BIOGRAPHY

Regarding Joseph Giovannini’s review of Michael Cannell’s “I.M. Pei: Mandarin of Modernism” (Feb. 18): As someone who has a background similar to that of Pei (graduated from the same university in China, emigrated to the United States during the same period), I have followed Pei’s career with great interest and am quite proud of what he has accomplished in his adopted country.

This biography, being written by a non-architect, is meant to chronicle the highlights of a remarkable life and little else. If it is Giovannini’s wish to critique Pei’s architectural style and substance, let him make the time and effort to create his own book, confined to an analytical discussion of architecture and nothing else.

H. K. KSIEH, PACIFIC PALISADES