Sir – I agree wholeheartedly with Peter Snaith’s comments on the Oxford Literary Festival (Letters, April 4).

Having attended this event for many years, I was looking forward to listening to wonderful authors, followed by book-browsing and chatting to other visitors in the marquee. How disappointing this anticipated experience proved to be.

While the excellent standard and variety of talks on offer was maintained, I felt that not having a marquee spoilt the whole event. There was no focal point and the whole festival, apart from in the rooms where the talks took place, lacked any atmosphere whatsoever.

Gone was the opportunity to browse the hundreds of books normally on display, or to listen to the mini-lectures so popular in the past and the lack of refreshments was a major talking point by disgruntled visitors. Chatting to people about a talk you’ve just attended, or a book you are reading, over a cup of tea, is an important social part of the festival and not to be underestimated.

I’m unsure as to why there was no marquee this year, but, for whatever reason, it was certainly very poor judgement on the part of the organisers and needs to be reinstated.

The Oxford Literary Festival competes with others and if it is going to maintain its reputation, much thought needs to be put into ways of improving the event in 2014, not cutting corners.

Linda Baldock, Little Tew