In two previous columns I quoted from one of the writers whom I most greatly admired, referring to him as the "late Shigeto Tsuru." It has been drawn to my attention that I was misinformed, as Mr. Tsuru, I am embarassed but really delighted to report, is alive and well. I offer my most sincere apologies to him, to his family, to his friends and to all others who may have been distressed by this unfortunate mistake. -- Jean-Pierre Lehmann

LAUSANNE, Switzerland -- I do not know writer Ian Buruma personally, although I had the opportunity to watch and listen to him recently at a Budapest meeting on the theme of "Reshaping Globalization," which was convened by financier and philanthropist George Soros.

I consider Buruma to be one of the most brilliant and eclectic contemporary writers, truly a "Renaissance man." I do not know how many languages he commands, though from references in his publications I presume that, along with his native Dutch, they include all the main European languages as well as Chinese and Japanese. He wanders off the intellectual beaten track, and on every issue he writes about produces comments that are original, incisive and challenging.