Caroline Lamb Sir: It is absurd of Auberon Waugh (1 9
March) to compare Mrs Trudeau with Caroline Lamb. Caroline Lamb was an artist, if manic-depressive, egotistic and eccentric. '[feel intensely—is that madness?' she asked. It is not true that she was `universally seen as a freak and a monster.' Flef attainments were considerable and she was respected by many for her intellect, not least Byron's publisher John Murray. She wrote and published much attractive verse, some of which was set to music by Nathan (and pirated by others). Of her three novels, the first (written in a state of mania), is still studied and quoted by biographers. Her second, Graham , Hamilton, was highlY praised by the, critic of The Gentleman's Magazine for 'the force and eloquence of the language, the beauty of the sentiments, and the spirit, though at the same time the simplicity, of the story.' Her third novel, Ada Reis, won further praise and popularity.
As for the Lambs, they were not so wonderful. George Lamb (probably fathered bY the Prince Regent), gouty, drunken, himself a writer, but of indifferent comedies, was far from being his brother William's political equal, and actually.won an election through Caroline's vigorous campaigning. Far from being grateful, the conformist Lamb familY forbade her to campaign at the following election, which George Lamb consequently lost,
Margot Strickland 1 Brocket Hall, Welwyn, Herts
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