1 NOVEMBER 1997, Page 32

Sir: Reading Anthony Powell's Dance 20 years ago, the exciting

fear gripped me and others among my ambitious acquaintances that we might be our own Widmerpools. However, now that I and they have all become wallflowers, I feel free to suggest a nominee or two from those still dancing. As one of Widmerpool's qualities is to rise without trace, the obvious leading pre- sent candidate must be Lord Simon, who also displays much of our anti-hero's stolid acceptance of being a centre of distur- bance. He is clearly the sort of fellow who gets sugar poured over him. In the female

LETTERS

Widmerpool category, both Carla Powell and Gail Rebuck show signs of promise, David Conway 126 Green Dragon Lane, London N21