12 JUNE 1971, Page 25

Waugh victims

Sir: Auberon Waugh begins his review of Philip Norman's novel (5 June) by complaining because the dust-jacket has a picture of the author, Apparently Mr Waugh dis- likes Mr Norman's appearance. I'm surely not alone in feeling that this is• quite remarkably offensive and vulgar, as well as entirely irrelevant to criticism of the novel, When Mr Waugh turns to my novel, he complains because there's nothing on the dust-jacket to tell him how old I am. I am forty-nine, if it matters. I'm sorry that Mr Waugh doesn't think much of my novel, but relieved that he found it easy to read. Obviously, one would hate to cause this reviewer any mental effort, Mervyn Jones 9 Hardy Road, Blackheath, London sa3