I was interested to read the review of The White Giraffe by Lauren St John, in particular Amanda Craig’s comment that it had been a long time since a children’s author dared to write about Africa. In April this year Anderson Press published Sophie and the Albino Camel, by Stephen Davies. I am biased as I am his mother but The Times Educational Supplement of July 20 did describe it as “an exceptional short novel”.

Heather Davies, by e-mail

TROUBLED WATERS

It is a pity that, in his review of Battle for the North, Michael Binyon repeats an assertion made by its author, Charles McKean. The theory that a derailed train brought down the Tay Bridge is just what Thomas Bouch argued at the original 1880 Inquiry. It was rejected then, and more recently in my own reinvestigaton of the disaster (Beautiful Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay, Tempus, 2004). There is little support for the theory; it is more likely that the bridge fell because of metal fatigue and joints loosened by oscillation over two years of intensive use.

Peter Lewis, by e-mail

UNHAPPY ENDING

As a book lover, I would hope that in future you will not publish reviews that reveal the ending, as did your paperback review of Nicholas Evans’s The Divide. My partner is reading this at present. Luckily, I read the review and told her not to!

Andy Down, Cardiff

NOT JUST FOR CHILDREN

Why was your review of Forest Mage by Robin Hobb categorised as “children’s books”? I have never seen her work sold as anything other than adult fantasy, as she is one of the most respected contemporary fantasy authors. Did someone make a mistake or is there an assumption that fantasy novels must necessarily be written just for children?

Louise Reeve, by e-mail

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