14 JUNE 1997, Page 30

The truth at last

Sir: Regarding the recent correspondence (and doubts) relating to the existence of Alice von Schlieffen, the name itself has a potentially interesting interpretation. The Christian name 'Alice' is generally associat- ed with the concept of 'truth', and while `von' is the Germanic aristocratic prefix it can be understood in more general contexts as 'about'. So, is 'Alice von Schlieffen' real- ly 'the truth about Schlieffen'?

Michael Theobald

`Charcas', Park Drive, Claverdon, Warwick