20 SEPTEMBER 1969, Page 32

Ivy Compton-Burnett

Sir: As Anthony Powell in his excellent article on this author (6 September) point, out, her name is frequently mispronounced. Miss Compton-Burnett was evidently irritated by this herself. For the record, I once heard an author address her as `Miss Corn-pton Burndte—to which she replied. with some asperity, 'Cum-pton Burnett, if you please!'

Actually, the subject of the conversation at the time was mysticism, and, when every- one had had their say, Ivy brought the subject to an abrupt close by saying, 1 always think mysticism is woolly-minded- ness'.