12 NOVEMBER 1983, Page 24

Banana skin

Sir: As the Festive Season approaches it is pleasing to see Paul Johnson skating by on one of his own banana skins. Criticizing Harold Evans last week, he wisely observes that narratives should be distrusted which include verbatim conversations, unless they can be substantiated by transcripts from diaries written the same evening. So, in a sentence, he has effectively demolished the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Hugh Burnett

2 Old Palace Yard, Richmond, Surrey.