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West Melville, Northam, N. Devon. - Has been looking at the Christmas books Bob has sent them between 1944 and 1947 ["From the Shiffolds"]: feels sure they 'contain some of the best' of Bob's work, and is 'very glad indeed to have them'. It is a 'partial relief... to turn to poetry from the tremendous and shattering events' of the time, of which 'many people seem so unaware'. Thinks the world is at a crisis, but is 'not without hope'; has just read Jung's latest book of essays, "On Contemporary Events", which he is sure would interest Bob. Jung has a 'wide and deep vision'; believes he is right that 'the best we can do is to look for The Shadow in ourselves', though it is very 'easy to project it onto others'. Would like Bob to listen to his wireless talk on the [BBC] Third Programme on 17 January, about the books of Karen Blixen. She knows 'in her own intuitive manner almost as much about life, both conscious and unconscious, as does Jung by other methods'; he believes she is a 'genius', and no longer hesitates to 'make extravagant claims for her'.

Is envying Bob's classical scholarship particularly at the moment: has always wanted to write a novel about the first century and is now beginning work on it. Plans to 'start on Appolonia [sic'] before moving scene to Cyprus, Palestine, and the West African Coast, so will have to do 'quite a lot of reading' on background, geography, politics, and 'the relatedness of ideas, Neo-Platonism, Gnosticism, and Hebrew sects, with perhaps influence from Egypt coming in'. Bob will think him 'a very rash man, and ignorant to be so rash'; wishes he could 'drop in' for a talk with him. Sends best wishes to both Trevelyans.

The four volumes [of Bob's "Collected Works"] will 'completely dwarf' his own when together on the shelf. Asks if Bob has seen Douglas Bush's "Mythology and the Romantic tradition in English Poetry" ("Harvard Studies in English" Vol. 18), which he recently read at the British Library; it discusses the mythological poetry [Robert] Bridges], Bob, [Lascelles] Abercrombie, [Laurence] Binyon and Sturge Moore himself, concentrating on Bridges and Sturge Moore but 'treating us all seriously'. Heard about it from Frederick Gwynn, a pupil of Bush, who intends to write a book about Sturge Moore's poetry as his thesis ["Sturge Moore and the Life of Art", Richards Press ; University of Kansas Press, 1952] and hopes to spend next year in England. Gwynn will be one of the 'most careful readers' of Bob's "Collected Works". 'Education and Universities' do good at least in providing 'readers even for the unpopular' and students who 'appreciate other than fashionable qualities'. He and Marie will be 'proud' to own Bob's book.

The Countess [Karen] Blixen's "Out of Africa" has 'charming chapters'; her 'little Kikuyu protegé' believed Blixen could write a book as 'big and as hard as the Odyssey', but not that she could 'make it blue', like her copy of Homer; Bob's book would fulfil all points. Blixen does not write perfect English, but 'her psychology and style are both poetical and most interesting in unexpected ways'. Heard about the book from Binyon; it is a 'real delight, though unequal in places'. Met Julian and Ursula at the London Theatre Studio on Friday night: Julian is 'very charming and seems to have an "Out of Africa" touch not like a Giraffe but like some human equivalent' which the Countess may have 'discovered and appreciated', since she had a 'flair for the really valuable & rare'.