Sir, - In response to Eileen Battersby's piece of February 3rd on the late Francis Stuart, I wish to quote what has been said of the quality of his prose in the past.
1. W. B. Yeats on Pigeon Irish: "He has a style full of lyrical intensity, a mind full of spiritual passion."
2. John Broderick on Memorial: "The writing in this novel Memorial is of a rare poetic distinction."
3. R. Ellis Roberts on The Coloured Dome: "That one can mention Shakespeare to anyone who has read The Coloured Dome or Pigeon Irish without making him merely ridiculous is a sign of his quality."
4. Liam O'Flaherty: "Clearly the man is a poet."
5. Harold Nicolson: "One of the most remarkable authors of our time."
6. Olivia Manning on Redemption: "Written with a poetic force that comes out of the very core of suffering."
7. Ralph Strauss: "Francis Stuart is an Irish poet who writes in prose."
To say he was no stylist and that his work was not lyrical shows a lack of understanding of his more prominent works in particular. - Yours, etc., James Conway,
Facilitator, Rathmines Writers' Workshop, Brighton Gardens, Rathgar, Dublin 6.