3 FEBRUARY 2001, Page 26

Wheatcroft rebuked

From Mr Robert Andrews Sir: In answer to a specific criticism regarding the New Penguin Dictionary of Modern Quotations, reviewed by Geoffrey Wheatcroft (Books, 6 January), the words of rebuke he attributes to me in the book are, in fact, quite clearly ascribed to Orwell, rebuking himself. I would not presume to 'tick off' Orwell or anyone else represented in the book.

It is disheartening to see that Mr Wheatcroft ignored the original research in the dictionary and focused instead on a general condemnation of books of modern quotations, but he might have looked a little more carefully at the text he was reviewing.

Robert Andrews Editor, The New Penguin Dictionary of Modern Quotations,

London W8