22 FEBRUARY 1992, Page 25

Funny bone of contention

Sir: As the editor who 'discovered' Mary Wesley (Jumping the Queue) when I was working for Macmillan, I find myself at odds with Miss Brookner's review (Books, 8 February). To me it seems that she misses one important point: Mary Wesley makes people laugh.

Hardinge of Penshurst

Bracken Hill, 10 Penland Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex