Make That ‘Winsomeness’

On Aug. 6, 1986, you ran Richard Eder’s review of my first novel, “Maud Gone.” It ended with the words “winsome mess.” “Mess” seemed a pretty tough word to end on, especially since Mr. Eder had a number of nice things to say about my book. Also, it didn’t seem to make sense. So I wrote Mr. Eder to ask if he had perhaps meant “winsomeness” instead. I received a very kind reply from him. Indeed, he had meant to say “winsomeness.” There was a misprint.

KATHLEEN ROCKWELL

LAWRENCE

New York

Editors’ note: Here is how the misprinted sentence read: “It is only a pity that Lawrence, in the obvious delight she takes in her protagonist, tends to push humor into winsome mess.”