Talented editor and literary agent who was a co-founder of Women in Publishing

In 1987 Faith Evans, who has died aged 83, set about realising the concept of a small literary agency with a distinct identity, akin to the list or imprint of a publisher. It would focus on ideas and the kind of books that would enable her to combine her editorial, publishing and business experience with making a living. This meant looking out for and thinking up projects to which she could contribute, and which accorded with her political views. The agency was to have fewer authors than most – a dozen rather than several dozen – so she could give them the attention they needed.

She launched her firm, Faith Evans Associates, in shared premises in Dryden Street, Covent Garden. Around this time, she was a juror in a trial in which I was the defending barrister at Knightsbridge crown court. She thought I was a good communicator as a defender of the underdog, and that if I could just translate that on to the page, then I could write.

Talented editor and literary agent who was a co-founder of Women in Publishing

In 1987 Faith Evans, who has died aged 83, set about realising the concept of a small literary agency with a distinct identity, akin to the list or imprint of a publisher. It would focus on ideas and the kind of books that would enable her to combine her editorial, publishing and business experience with making a living. This meant looking out for and thinking up projects to which she could contribute, and which accorded with her political views. The agency was to have fewer authors than most – a dozen rather than several dozen – so she could give them the attention they needed.

She launched her firm, Faith Evans Associates, in shared premises in Dryden Street, Covent Garden. Around this time, she was a juror in a trial in which I was the defending barrister at Knightsbridge crown court. She thought I was a good communicator as a defender of the underdog, and that if I could just translate that on to the page, then I could write.

Talented editor and literary agent who was a co-founder of Women in Publishing

In 1987 Faith Evans, who has died aged 83, set about realising the concept of a small literary agency with a distinct identity, akin to the list or imprint of a publisher. It would focus on ideas and the kind of books that would enable her to combine her editorial, publishing and business experience with making a living. This meant looking out for and thinking up projects to which she could contribute, and which accorded with her political views. The agency was to have fewer authors than most – a dozen rather than several dozen – so she could give them the attention they needed.

She launched her firm, Faith Evans Associates, in shared premises in Dryden Street, Covent Garden. Around this time, she was a juror in a trial in which I was the defending barrister at Knightsbridge crown court. She thought I was a good communicator as a defender of the underdog, and that if I could just translate that on to the page, then I could write.

Retired judge Michael Harris says we should not reject reform, we should refine it. Christian Mole says the system is blighted by inefficiency

I understand the main argument for reducing the number of cases tried by jury: they take longer and are significantly more expensive ( ‘A move towards an authoritarian state’: what those with trial experience think of removing juries, 7 December ). But two further points deserve emphasis.

First, most countries do not use juries. We are one of very few European nations that still do. During the imperial period we exported our system widely, yet even some former colonies have since abandoned it. The main countries retaining juries are the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. To insist that juries are essential to justice is, implicitly, to claim that the many modern democracies that do without them operate inadequate systems.

Retired judge Michael Harris says we should not reject reform, we should refine it. Christian Mole says the system is blighted by inefficiency

I understand the main argument for reducing the number of cases tried by jury: they take longer and are significantly more expensive ( ‘A move towards an authoritarian state’: what those with trial experience think of removing juries, 7 December ). But two further points deserve emphasis.

First, most countries do not use juries. We are one of very few European nations that still do. During the imperial period we exported our system widely, yet even some former colonies have since abandoned it. The main countries retaining juries are the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. To insist that juries are essential to justice is, implicitly, to claim that the many modern democracies that do without them operate inadequate systems.

Retired judge Michael Harris says we should not reject reform, we should refine it. Christian Mole says the system is blighted by inefficiency

I understand the main argument for reducing the number of cases tried by jury: they take longer and are significantly more expensive ( ‘A move towards an authoritarian state’: what those with trial experience think of removing juries, 7 December ). But two further points deserve emphasis.

First, most countries do not use juries. We are one of very few European nations that still do. During the imperial period we exported our system widely, yet even some former colonies have since abandoned it. The main countries retaining juries are the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. To insist that juries are essential to justice is, implicitly, to claim that the many modern democracies that do without them operate inadequate systems.

Anne Johns , who volunteers with refugees, says she regularly witnesses highly skilled and qualified people failing the test on idiotic questions

Oh, how I agree with Emma Beddington ( Forget Hadrian’s Wall. The UK citizenship test should ask about Corrie, bus queues and Greggs, 7 December ). I volunteer with refugees and regularly witness the distress of highly skilled and qualified people failing the test on idiotic questions that most Britons couldn’t answer. When simple facts can be found by a quick internet search, what is the point of wasting brain space by trying to memorise them?

Much more salient to ask questions like: where can you legally ride an electric scooter? The maximum legal speed for an electric bicycle? The documents needed to drive a car legally in the UK? What is the living wage? How do you obtain a library card? How do you know when it’s safe to cross a road at lights? What is a food bank? Which political party is currently in power in England?

Anne Johns , who volunteers with refugees, says she regularly witnesses highly skilled and qualified people failing the test on idiotic questions

Oh, how I agree with Emma Beddington ( Forget Hadrian’s Wall. The UK citizenship test should ask about Corrie, bus queues and Greggs, 7 December ). I volunteer with refugees and regularly witness the distress of highly skilled and qualified people failing the test on idiotic questions that most Britons couldn’t answer. When simple facts can be found by a quick internet search, what is the point of wasting brain space by trying to memorise them?

Much more salient to ask questions like: where can you legally ride an electric scooter? The maximum legal speed for an electric bicycle? The documents needed to drive a car legally in the UK? What is the living wage? How do you obtain a library card? How do you know when it’s safe to cross a road at lights? What is a food bank? Which political party is currently in power in England?

Anne Johns , who volunteers with refugees, says she regularly witnesses highly skilled and qualified people failing the test on idiotic questions

Oh, how I agree with Emma Beddington ( Forget Hadrian’s Wall. The UK citizenship test should ask about Corrie, bus queues and Greggs, 7 December ). I volunteer with refugees and regularly witness the distress of highly skilled and qualified people failing the test on idiotic questions that most Britons couldn’t answer. When simple facts can be found by a quick internet search, what is the point of wasting brain space by trying to memorise them?

Much more salient to ask questions like: where can you legally ride an electric scooter? The maximum legal speed for an electric bicycle? The documents needed to drive a car legally in the UK? What is the living wage? How do you obtain a library card? How do you know when it’s safe to cross a road at lights? What is a food bank? Which political party is currently in power in England?