Madam, - Vincent Banville, when reviewing Ingrid Black's novel The Dead (Books, August 9th) referred to the lesbian heroine as a he rather than a she. He apologises for this (August 20th) and attributes the error to his education. He goes on to wish Ms Black and her "gender-bender" heroine success for the future.
A lesbian woman is not a "gender-bender" any more than a he. There is no alteration in her gender because she is lesbian. She remains a woman. Vincent Banville's education is not yet complete, it seems. - Yours, etc.,
DECLAN KELLY, Whitechurch Road, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.