24 JUNE 1972, Page 28

Sarcastic Bookend

Sir: I fail to see why, at a time when you are running a correspondence about Jews and Arabs, a sarcastic and unnecessary attack on the celebrated Arab poet and mystic Kahlil Gibran was included as the lead 'story' in Bookend (June 10). Especially when Bookbuyer himor herself admits in the last sentence that the ' story ' — or should it be termed 'comment'? — about the administration of Gibran's estate is four years old. Aren't Arabs supposed to be bestsellers or do you just have a liking for stale news?

G. Leigh 40 Kelway Road, Wellington, Somerset