6 SEPTEMBER 1986, Page 20

Cut into illiteracy

Sir: Please don't cut or sub me into illiteracy and make me seem to have written of 'Harold Robbins, whose The Storyteller shows' this, that and the other (Books, 23 August). Possessive followed by definite article is not English. 'Have you read Dante's The Divine Comedy?' Im- possible. 'Can I borrow your The Times?' No, no. It must be 'Robbins, whose novel The Storyteller. . .', however little we may think he or it deserves the designation.

Kingsley Amis

do Jonathan Clowes, 22 Prince Albert Road, London NW1