Patrick Skene Catling
A magnificent book came my way this year, The Queen of Heaven (Macdonald Orbis, £30), Bruce Bernard's anthology of paintings of the Virgin Mary from the 12th century to the 18th. Mr Berrtard's modestly assertive preface, Peter Levi's stimulating- ly imaginative introductory essay and Christopher Lloyd's succinct but thorough historical appreciation of each of the 165 colour plates (beautifully printed in Italy) combine to make this everything an art book should be.
Having adjusted to the idea of inno- cence, I was able to enjoy the first four volumes of the Penguin Folklore Library, well-edited traditional Arab, Jewish, Scot- tish and Irish tales, for adults and children, which reassuringly demonstrate the univer- sality of human experience and aspirations. Istanbul: A Travellers' Companion (Constable, £12.95, £6.95) vividly tells the story of that exotic city since it was called Byzantium. Laurence Kelly selected the words from the writings of 14 centuries, and there are many contemporary illustra- tions. This is my favourite 1987 travel book as a substitute for travel.
On the other hand, J. P. Donleavy's latest novel, Are You Listening Rabbi Low (there is no comma or question mark in that title) (Viking, £11.95), a goy's notion of Jewish comedy, is excruciatingly unfun- ny.
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