27 MARCH 1993, page 38

Per Ardua Ad Asta

Harriet Waugh ASTA'S BOOK by Barbara Vine Viking, £1 5.99, pp. 437 I n her last novel and here, in Asta's Book, Barbara Vine has invested a good deal of effort in research. King......

Two Of A Kind, One Rather Kinder

Janet Barron OPERATION SHYLOCK: A CONFESSION by Philip Roth Cape, £14.99, pp. 398 T he story behind this review is as bizarre and appropriate as anything in Operation Shylock.......

The Leave Train

The train is moving; Out of the window I'm waving; Sister, daughter, friend and son Wait on the platform unaware The train has gone. Behind them, relations, people At parties,......