THELMA Edwards (Letters, February 27) is a better woman than I in regard to The Cloister and the Hearth. She is the first person I have come across in some 50 years who remembers anything of this great work of literature other than the famous cheese with maggots.

I learned to read at three and have been devouring the printed word from the classics to the airport brick ever since but still, mention this book and I just think "Ugh, maggots." Well done, Thelma.

Rachel Martin,

106 Whitehill Avenue,

Musselburgh.