Sir – Philip Pullman claims that I cannot have the faintest idea what his forthcoming book The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ says, since it has not yet gone to the printer. Actually, I do have the faintest idea — I merely commented on two widely publicised themes of the book, namely that Jesus was not divine and that St Paul influenced the writers of the Gospels.

I presume this information came from “sources close to the author”, but if, as Mr Pullman implies, the information is incorrect, I shall look forward to reading a book in which Jesus Christ is given his rightful place as Son of God and the Gospels confirmed as authentic.

(Dr) Lee Graham Oxford