3 OCTOBER 1987, page 31

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

Michael Davie IN THE LAND OF OZ by Howard Jacobson Hamish Hamilton, £9.95 A nyone leafing through publishers' catalogues these days can readily identify the books commissioned......

It's All Right For Some

Isabel Colgate THE COMPLEAT WOMAN: MARRIAGE, MOTHERHOOD, CAREER: CAN SHE HAVE IT ALL? by Valerie Grove Chatto & Windus, £12.95 W ondering in a dark moment whether it is possible......

One Hundred Years Ago

THE Americans believe that they have invented a new and most formidable weapon. On September 20th, Lieute- nant Zalinski was permitted to try his air-gun in New York Harbour......