7 SEPTEMBER 1996, Page 26

Life after death

Sir: Francis King mentioned in his review of Playing the Harlot by Patricia Avis (Books, 10 August) that 'Larkin . .. wrote to [Avis] on 11 August, 1992 (oddly the let- ter does not appear in the published collec- tion)'. The oddest thing to me, however, is the fact that Larkin was writing letters six years after his death.

Oscar Blend

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