Sisterwrite
Sir: Feminist-bashing as a Spectator sport is not my concern, but bookshop-bashing definitely is (Roy Kerridge, 13 March). In a country in which the standard and number of bookshops seems to be steadily falling, Sisterwrite must be one of the very best. By this I mean availability of stock, knowledge on the part of staff and willingness to discuss books intelligently, and good and efficient service; and a consequent atmos- phere in the shop, qua bookshop, which is something quite exceptional in the trade.
Of course it is a specialist, perhaps even a sectarian bookshop, and that makes these qualities easier to achieve; but that is not a ground for attack. I do not know if Sister- write needs a government subsidy, but, if it does, I am quite certain it deserves to get it. With regard to the cup of coffee upstairs, surely that is what has been happening in St James's Street every day for the last 200 years.
Anthony Sheil
2/3 Morwell Street, London WC1
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