GW ... I couldn't have said it better meself! Really!! But, seriously, thanks for that - I'm in the same situation as
bluskis, in that my now very aged copy of Kermode's wisdom is many miles away from me right now...
RR ... the written word can often be subject to misinterpretation, except perhaps in Kermode's turn of phrase. We can't all be as good at it as he is.
Geez, I wonder what edition of his book I have? 