18 AUGUST 1973, Page 5

Word of welcome

I have only two claims as a reWevser of recent fiction " writes your iieW

an Mr Peter Ackroyd (August " I have never written a novel, never intend to write

one read:„. . They also serve who sit and _ Fair enough, 1 would only add one other criteria: that a reviewer of con " tern Parary fiction must love the novel As o form. Mr Tony Palmer patently

not (and I am being objective). Auberon Waugh does, but is '!'nved by some profound sense of dension, the origins of which are only too clear.

p Mr Ackroyd did well with Messrs ol.riaYn and De Vries. If the heart's ere welcome.

ar Y Christopher Leach Pew Tree House, Over Tabley. knutsford, Cheshire