7 JANUARY 1966, Page 11

SIR, -Mr. Raven and his like have never been wanted in

this field. One woman began the novel, another brought it to perfection, a third tilled the single chink remaining, and a fourth let in all the tedious taradiddle which Mr. Raven rightly deplores in himself and others of his gender. I refer to Fanny Burney. Jane Austen. Emily Bronte and Mary Ann Evans.

AMY TUBE

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