Letter: A shortage of death in Adams's writings

Sir: Roy Foster (Books, 10 September) is entitled to his view of Gerry Adams and of his Selected Writings, but your readers should not take him too seriously. 'Reminiscence and fiction merge in pieces,' he says, which 'almost invariably rely on a death in the last paragraph'. There are 30 pieces in the book, of which three feature a death in or near the last paragraph. Invariably?

One understands why many commentators misrepresent Gerry Adams, but your readers should not rely upon the grindings of Roy Foster's axe.

Yours sincerely,

STEVE MacDONOGH

Editorial Director

Brandon Book Publishers

Dingle, Co Kerry

Ireland

19 September