4 NOVEMBER 1972, Page 17

Scooped

Sir: If Clive Gammon (October 14) were really as literate as he wants all his readers to be, he would remember that Miss Boot's name was not Patricia but Priscilla, and that the sticks to be cloven were indeed (half of them) hockey sticks. These are of course quite trivial considerations; what is not trivial is the right which Mr Gammon assumes to classify the literacy of others on the basis of their familiarity with one short work which, while undeniably entertaining, can hardly be classed as either one of the World's Great Books or even a major success by its author.

Possibly Mr Gammon was trying to be funny? Further study of the book under discussion might teach him how.

Anne Griffin Via de Marchi 7, Biella