26 NOVEMBER 1988, page 37

Books Of The Year

A selection of the best and most overrated books of the year, chosen by some of The Spectator's regular reviewers. Robert Blake My first choice is Alistair Home's Macmil- lan......

A. N. Wilson

Brian McGuinness's biography of Wittgen- stein in early years made a great impress- ion on me (Wittgenstein, A Life: Young Ludwig 1889-1921, Duckworth, £15.95). `What we cannot......

John Bayley

Like Jane Austen's father, I incline to feel that most good novels are by women. But this has been a disappointing year. Mary Wesley a wash-out; Anita Brookner not at her best.......