21 AUGUST 1971, Page 22

Jumping the gun

Sir: If we accept the Press Council's ruling that no reviews of boks should appear before the technical 'day of publication' it follows that publishers, no less than editors, should not jump the gun. But in fact they do, for many of them, including Messrs Gollancz, send proof copies to established writers soliciting favourable quotes which (if they can get them) they then use before publication, thus scooping the editors to whom they would deny this prior privilege of review.

Colin Maclnnes C/o MacGibbon & Nee Ltd, W.1