Are women's achievements underrated?

The fact that reviewers and other people talk about "novelists" and "women novelists" says a lot. In another field, remember Mr Cameron recently rejoicing in Andy Murray's Wimbledon victory at the expense of previous female champions.

I have been told by some men that women have never written great books or composed great music. In fact, much of the output of talented women was suppressed or published under the name of their male relatives.

My first wife had the experience of submitting a book under her own name and having it rejected, then submitting it under a male nom de plume - it was then accepted... The music field is slowly caving in - most orchestras these days have a fair number of women players (Even the Vienna Phil has some), and women conductors are beginning to show up. Composers are still thin on the ground - Dame Ethel Smythe is the only one that leaps to mind. However, there are talented ladies writing film and television music.

Yes, women's achievements are underrated, partly as a result of lack of opportunity.

There are hundreds of excellent women writers publishing today under female names. Interesting that JK Rowling's first detective novel was published under a male name - Robert Galbraith. I wonder why she did that. I believe that some men write romantic fiction under female noms de plume, though probably not serious fiction. Horses for courses?

Did anyone see the Proms last night, the first ever female conductor?
She made a good speech to that effect.

Greatnan, the famous critic, FR Leavis would disagree with those men who think no woman has ever written a great book. They are probably men who would dismiss out of hand any novel with a woman's name on the cover. That is why the Brontes and George Eliot wrote under masculine pseudonyms.

Which book was it, Eloethan?

"Capital" - John Lanchester. I was hesitant to name it as I wasn't criticising the book - I found it easy to read and entertaining.

I just wondered whether, had it been written by a woman, it would have been described in terms such as "the great London novel of the early 21st century" (Jonathan Derbyshire, New Statesman).

Thanks Eloethan - I was just wondering!