22 JANUARY 1983, Page 19

Ironically

Sir: Sure, ok, I did write those words that Paul Johnson teased out of my Guardian book review (15 January). Next time, for the benefit of Spectator columnists, I'll have them print a large warning about the use of irony in 20th-centry English.

Erlend Clouston 153 Kinder Road, Hayfield, Derbyshire