Giles Fraser (Loose canon, 11 December) is right to say that the Books of the Maccabees are not in the Hebrew Bible, but not that “they originate in the Catholic and Orthodox version of the Bible”. The original Hebrew text of 1 Maccabees is lost, but its translation into Greek is found, together with the original Greek text of 2 Maccabees, in the Septuagint, which was written by Jews during the 3rd and 2nd century BCE, long before any Christian version of the Bible.
Ralph Blumenau
London
• Three examples from the seasonal advertfest: Epilady promises us “soft, beautiful legs”. Express Pedi offers “soft, beautiful feet”. And Dove can provide “soft, beautiful underarms”. Advertisers obviously think we’re beautiful and soft in the head.
Jacqueline McShane
Airdrie, Lanarkshire
• I was surprised that Peter Bradshaw, in praising Tina Fey and Amy Poehler in Sisters (December 11), should suggest that their performances “show that the female-female dynamic, so recently considered almost gravitationally impossible in comedy, works very well”. But this is hardly a novelty – French and Saunders in Absolutely Fabulous, and Wood and Walters blazed that trail long ago.
Mike Venis
Faversham, Kent
• If all astronauts who go up in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft follow a tradition started by Yuri Gagarin of peeing on the rear right wheel of the coach that takes them to the launch pad (Tim Peake Profile, 12 December), how did Helen Sharman manage?
Karl Sabbagh
Newbold on Stour, Warwickshire
• Rather than denying Donald Trump access to the UK (Report, 10 December), I believe that he should be encouraged to visit our shores immediately. Especially as it’s nice and windy.
Ian Grieve
Steyning, West Sussex
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