7 DECEMBER 1985, page 31

Byron Rogers

John James wrote three historical novels at the end of the 1960s. I read two of them this year: Votan and Not for all the Gold in Ireland, and have advertised without suc- cess......

_ E

Books of the Year A further selection of the best and most overrated books of the year chosen by some of the Spectator's regular reviewers. Christopher Booker I have often......

Margaret Fitzherbert

People tend, very tiresomely, to have a political reaction to Doris Lessing; as a result, many may miss her outstanding new novel, The Good Terrorist. It is quite excellent and......

Patrick Marnham

Once again Eland Books' list of reprints has been outstanding. John Hatt has offered fiction for the first time with The Law by Roger Vailland. This is a marvel- lous novel......