29 NOVEMBER 1969, Page 32

Every man in his U-mour

Sir: Am I wrong in my assumption that the primary object of a book-reviewer is to give his readers information which is relevant to the books with which he is dealing?

This query is prompted by Lord Egre- mont's criticism (22 November) of Professor A. S. C. Ross's book What are U? For the reviewer (sic) concentrated mainly on anec- dotes concerning his own relations and vari- ous Lords and Ladies—with references to a sprinkling of former statesmen thrown in for good measure.

Professor Ross's book received only minimal coverage—admittedly a work of this nature does not lend itself to nearly a full- page review, unless numerous extracts are quoted.

If Lord Egremont had only provided a more generous portion of examples, then 1. too, might have been enabled to transform myself into a typically U-character.

Nancy Perry Hockington House, Willingdon, Eastbourne. Sussex Sir: I enjoyed Lord Egremont's criticism of Alan S. C. Ross's What are U? (22 Novem- ber). I fear though that in writing off the whole exercise as ludicrous, Lord Egremont has missed its point. This is a conspiracy of the middle classes. By the observance of so many minutiae, especially in their speech. members of the middle class who have no ancestors put themselves on an equal foot- ing with members of the aristocracy who have.

I am grateful to Lord Egremont, however. for suggesting the necessary precautions. Lord Egremont says that Lord Ancaster and his sister Lady Dalhousie spoke a local accent. So did any aristocrat before the end of the eighteenth century. If I have issue, I shall hire a nurse from Monmouthshire or the North Cotswolds, who will instruct them in the patois of their antecedents.

Sudeley 25 Melcombe Court, Dorset Square, Nwl