Scandal

Wilson (The Occult and Seaman (Chase Royal here cover scandalsliterary, political, financial and sexualof the past three centuries and treat each one objectively and thoroughly. In their introduction, they opine that all of us ""enjoy seeing over-inflated balloons explode,'' but warn that half-truth is the stock in trade of scandalmongers. Many of the entries concern British cases, ranging from the forgeries of Thomas Chatterton through the trials of Oscar Wilde and the treason of Burgess, Maclean and Philby, to the intruder who broke into Queen Elizabeth's bedroom. But the subjects come from all over the world: the bribery of Japanese premier Tanaka, the suicide of Archduke Rudolf at Mayerling, the framing of Alfred Dreyfus in France. And there is much to interest American readers: Teapot Dome, Watergate and a long chapter on Hollywood from the drug addiction of Olive Thomas to Roman Polanski's fondness for teenage girls. Photos not seen by PW.(July 30)