14 MAY 1977, Page 18

Literally so

Sir: Mr Christopher Booker, in his Notebook (23 April), points out, rightlY enough, that 'archetype' has an 'absolutely precise' meaning. So has 'literal-1Y', yet in the same article Mr Booker, in a diatribe against Radio Three, says that 'literally no one' has ever heard of coin posers like Biber, Schmelzer arid Machaut. Literally thousands of peoPie have heard of them, and Mr Booker might find Machaut worthy of his attention some time.

Michael Kennedy 3 Moorwood Drive, Sale, Cheshire