Mote and beam
Sir: When one writer attacks another writer's style, he is taking a risk, for he is implying that he himself is not only far superior on the page, but also that he should be recognised as such. I refer to Frederic Raphael's criticism, in his Diary (5 January), of Ruth Rendell's prose style [deserves 'the blue pencil, not to mention the raspberry'] and of her dialogue in particular, which Mr Raphael considers `very lame'.
Of course, one could say it is simply a matter of opinion. However, recently I was asked to rewrite the screenplay of an international film because, according to the producers, the director and the actors, the dialogue was not only banal but un- speakable. The writer of this, I must admit, `very lame' dialogue was Frederic Raphael. Derek Marlowe
80 Hamlet Gardens, London W6
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