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On headed notepaper for Kings College Cambridge, with note 'Coventry actually, where I am spending Christmas and New Year with the Buckinghams. - Thanks Bessie for her card and letter; is glad she is 'as comfortable as these uncomfortable times allow. The Suez imbecility has robbed us of both comfort and honour, and I do resent being deprived of both'.

Is well in himself, and still has 'enough money to stem the rising tide of prices', but is unsure how long that will continue; the 'transport problem is an immediate vexation'. Is very glad to have 'got to Greece in the spring', and Leiden for a week more recently.

Unfortunately Florence [Barger] 'lacks her old strength, and has to live more quietly'; Harriet 'looks after her splendidly', and Evert has 'a good and totally new job in London' so will settle there. Has 'satisfactory news of G. M. T. from [George Trevelyan's son] Humphry.

Had a 'charming and unexpected invitation' to eat Christmas dinner with George Moore and his wife; could not accept as he was going to Coventry. 'Various other professorial or semi-professorial lame or semi-lame dogs' would also have been there, 'an unusual and probably most agreeable occasion'. Kings 'seems to have started off well under its new Provost, Noel Annan. Provost [J. T.] Sheppard is in Texas!'

Encloses a Hungarian Relief card, which he 'only got by writing direct to the Lord Mayor [of London, Sir Cullum Welch, who launched the fund]. The Trash [perhaps the Times?] has boycotted it - really disgusting'.

Sends much love, and hopes to see her 'when things get easier - and may they!'.

As from 129 Wendell Road, Shepherd's Bush, W.12. - Thanks her for her letter and news; does 'sympathise' with her over 'this miserable upheaval [the possibility of moving from the Shiffolds]. Sorrow in itself is wretched enough' and from it comes 'the necessity for choices and decisions - at a time when one longs to rest and drift'. She also does 'not have the haven Cambridge so miraculously opened for' him. Julian seems the 'obvious person' for advice, but Forster supposes he 'is not what is called "good" at it, and no amount of trying can produce that sort of "goodness".

Is writing partly as he is 'broadcasting on the Third Programme on the subject of the Third Programme on Saturday and Monday. Great solemnity - recording van sent specially to the Buckinghams in case my ankle [which he had recently broken] feels tired'. He 'got out of plaster earlier this month', and spent a 'pleasant week' in Aldeburgh. His ankle has been 'rather troublesome' since then, but he understands this is 'not unusual'. Has a 'most comfortable and genteel shoe', and is seeing the surgeon again next week. Is just about to leave for London now by car, partly so that he can pick up Agnes [Dowland] at Barnet.

Thinks 'the opera [Billy Budd, for which Forster had written the libretto] will be fine'; has now heard it all, and has been 'strumming at' a proof copy of the piano score this morning. They have still not found a singer to play Billy: he 'must look fine, so central European stomachs are unfortunately excluded'. The final possibility is 'a young man who cannot sing all the notes', as the part is a high baritone. Forster is 'all for having him. What do a few notes matter?'.

Has not seen Florence [Barger] since her return, but has spoken to her on the phone, she 'seemed most happy and prosperous'. Is using another sheet of paper to 'urge you, whatever you decide [about her home and future] not to be too unselfish, but to procure whatever money can provide towards the comfort of your body and mind'.

Occurs to him that she might like to see the enclosed piece [no longer present], written for 'a "Reader's Club" magazine in the States which has been founded by Auden, Trilling and Barzun', whom he respects: they have chosen his new book [Two Cheers for Democracy] for this October, and requested 'something for the magazine'; asks if she can return it.

Postcript: 'Unfinished novel [what was later published in short story form as The Open Boat?] in an awful mess I fear'.

3 Wilbraham Place; sent to Elizabeth Trevelyan at the Shiffolds. - Thanks her for letter; it [an operation] 'is not a big business, as before: only tiresomeness'. Hopes they may let him out soon; will then go for a few days to the Buckinghams, then to Cambridge, then to Aldeburgh. Very glad she 'saw and enjoyed the bluebells'. Sends love to her and Bob.

129 Wendell Road, London, W.12 [headed notepaper]. - Is glad to say that Morgan [Forster] is 'now out of danger, and the experts are quite certain he will make a good recovery'. If he 'continues to progress he may receive visitors in about a week from today'.

129 Wendell Road, London, W.12. - Since Mrs Barger has gone to Paris, and Morgan [Forster] was unsure whether she had written to Bessie, he has asked Buckingham to tell her he is 'over the first part of the operation & is feeling much better than he expected'; the 'major operation' will be in about ten days time, and Buckingham will let her know the result 'immediately'.

4 Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh. - Convalescence [after a prostate operation] has been slow, but he is now improving. Asks for suggestions of a classical author whom Vere could read and refer to in the "Billy Budd" libretto. The opera goes on well. Sends love to Bessie, who visited him in the nursing home. Stayed for a time at the Buckinghams, then Ben Britten drove him and May Buckingham to Aldeburgh. May has now returned.

Postmarked London W.1.; sent to Elizabeth Trevelyan at The Shiffolds - All is going well; may get home in ten days or a fortnight. Has told B.B. [Bob Buckingham] that he need not send her any more 'bulletins'. Has just received a call from [Leonard?] Greenwood, 'most enthusiastic over the Lucretius [Robert Trevelyan's translation of De Rerum Natura].

Postmarked London W.1; sent to Elizabeth at the Shiffolds. - Thanks 'dear Bessie' for the 'sweet flowers and still sweeter notes', which all came when they were 'much needed'. Is now ''"doing well", though that still entails doing nothing'; the nurses have been nice but 'the upper command must really be bloodier than normal'. Thinks Bob [Buckingham] is keeping her informed' asks if she could 'write him a line sometime', which he thinks would be appreciated. His mother and Bob have had 'much to do'.

Feels 'more like reading' now, and 'perhaps shall extricate Emma from Mr Elton tomorrow - no great difficulty in view of her energetic cooperation'.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Meant to answer Bessie's 'kind letter' before, but 'these are paralysing days, and it is impossible to write with one's old gaiety, nor has one time to create a new sort'. Went to the London Library the morning after the bombing, and 'saw Carlyle's head stricken from his shoulders, and the theological section ruining [?] through the ceiling of the Reading Room'; wonders whether 'poor Bob has looked in'. Meant to 'do half a days salvaging there, but had to go numbering up all my aunts in Putney. All were intact'. Now he is back home, 'combatting a sore throat and cough with prudence and success'; would like to come over next month, and perhaps as the evenings get lighter she will get to visit them.

Should have 'taken chair for Hsiao Chien on Tuesday', and is disappointed that he cannot; has not seen him recently, but has 'been blessed with an American charmer [William Roerick], a friend of Christopher Isherwood, who has now gone off to Africa'. He was acting in This is the Army [by Irving Berlin], perhaps not known to Bessie 'even by name!', and took Forster a few times to the Churchill Club [at Ashburnham House]. There was a '"musical brains trust" there , Ralph V[aughan] W[illiams], acquitting himself very well, Malcolm Sargent - glib, Wm Walton smartibootified, and Alan Rawsthorne a little drunk'.

Thanks Bessie for the 'cutting for [the National Council for? Civil Liberties'; thinks they are 'a little nervous of adding education to their activities'. His mother seems fairly well, and sends love. 'Bob (policeman) [Buckingham] has been over here mending pokers, window sashes etc. He has had a grim time during the raids'; Forster hears '(from another source) that many more planes come over than we are allowed to know'. Hopes the news of [her daughter in law?] Ursula and family is good.

137 Hartswood Rd, W.12. - Has just been speaking to Mrs Forster, who says that Morgan is 'a little better today' and that the surgeon assures her he will be 'quite all right'. Hopes to see Morgan on Saturday; will write after that to Elizabeth unless Mrs Forster has news tomorrow.

137 Hartswood Rd, W.12. - Is 'rather worried about Morgan', who is 'much weaker this morning'... he is apparently unable to take any nourishment without vomiting. He is now not allowed any visitors except his mother. Will keep in touch with her and let Elizabeth know what she says. There are no complications and the wound is 'quite all right'; the anaesthetic has upset his stomach. Hopes he will have better news tomorrow.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Thought she 'had had enough' of his pamphlet [Nordic Twilight, published as a Macmillan War Pamphlet], but 'here it is again. Also Virginia's letter - a very nice one, still, it ought to have been, no wonder she was pleased'. He and 'the people in the rich car' did not discover 'who anyone was'; they were going to Mr Harrison's at the Hatch, and 'most civilly offered' to send him on in the car alone, but he continued on foot.

Yesterday he 'achieved London', seeing his relatives in Putney and going on to Chiswick where his 'flat was still standing, and indeed, intact except for one smashed window, which Bob Buckingham has already got boarded up'. They 'watched what is drearily known as a 'dog-fight' through the un-smashed windows' before he returned home 'via Hammersmith Earl's Court Wimbledon Motspur Park and Dorking'.

Was very nice seeing her; sends much love to her and to Bob, to whom he will write when he returns his poem. Adds postscript: he does not 'want May [? or Mag?] back'.

137 Hartswood Rd, W.12. - Morgan's final operation [for prostrate trouble] has been very successful; saw him this morning and he is 'in very good spirits', saying he is in little pain and is comfortable. Thought he looked as well as can be expected, and he is 'certainly very cheerful'. Will keep her informed.

137 Hartswood Rd., W.12. - Thanks for the stamps. Morgan [Forster's] tests have been unsatisfactory and the surgeon wants to postpone the operation [for prostate trouble] for a month; Morgan will return to West Hackhurst on Monday; he is quite well and has started to get out of bed a little. His mother seems in good spirits.

137 Hartswood Rd., W.12. - No definite news yet as to the date of Morgan [Forster's] second operation [for prostate trouble], since the tests on Monday were not satisfactory; the tests will be done again next Monday and the operation will follow that Wednesday if the results are improved. Morgan is doing very well and his mother is bearing up.

137 Hartswood Rd., W.12. - Has good news of Morgan [Forster], who seems to have made an excellent recovery from his first operation [for prostate trouble]. His nurses appear to be very satisfactory. The date of his second operation is not yet settled. Will keep the Trevelyans informed of his progress. Buckingham's wife [May] is very well; their son [Robin] has just returned home so they are very happy.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Tried to ring up, but the telephone was out of order. Sorry to hear Bessie's news, especially as he was hoping to see her more often. Asks where she is going: he and Goldie [Dickinson] used to like Lyme Regis; Sidmouth has a new public garden laid out by Dartington Hall; he likes Eastbourne the best of the nearer resorts. Asks if she sent a letter to Gerald Heard at the Buckinghams: B. [Bob] is intrigued. Is enjoying Roger's book [Roger Fry's translations of Mallarme?].

19 Manchester Street, W. - Thanks the Trevelyans for their letters. Has disappointing news: his tests are bad and MacD. [Sydney Macdonald] does not want to operate for at least a month; he will therefore return to West Hackhurst soon, and will need some supervision from a local doctor. If just for this month, he thinks 'fat Davidson from Shere' will do, but would be glad to hear of anyone in Dorking who may be better: asks who attended Bob. McComas, whom his aunt Laura saw, charged a guinea a visit. His mother will probably visit, and Bob Buckingham drive him down. Is writing to most people in pencil to let them know how ill he is.

19 Manchester Street, W. - Is comfortable in bed. Thanks Bessie for her letter and anenomes. Gives her Bob Buckingham's address, and the phone number for the surgical department. The operation [for prostate trouble] will be at 9 tomorrow morning.

W[est] H[ackhurst]. - Wonders if Bob suffered from sick headaches when having prostate trouble: does not think Goldie [Dickinson] did. Is going to consult Terence Millin, a doctor who uses diothermic treatment, though will not arrange to be treated without an outside opinion - on Millin himself if possible. May go on to MacDonald, about whom Bessie informed him via Mr Hutchinson, though is not optimistic about orthodox surgery. His mother knows something about it, and seems to be a little worried but not too much. He worries about 'the bits of work' he hasn't finished off: he has been so happy in his friends, particularly recently, that he does not feel he has '"missed" private relationships'. Hasn't seen Julian's pictures yet, nor the Chinese ones [the 1935-1936 International Exhibition of Chinese Art at the Royal Academy], but he and Bob may do both on Thursday. Malcolm Darling is back. Is trying to think of a title for his collected essays [Abinger Harvest]: asks if Bessie or Bob have any suggestions.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - As well as a letter from Bessie, has just received one from 'a shady but nice Frenchman' and an invitation from the World Movement against Fascism to go to Abyssinia on a mission. Is glad to hear better news of Bessie: would be good if the operation could be postponed until her nursing home is ready. Has brought Anwar Masood down to visit. Is going away to Dorset for three days on Sunday, and on holiday with Bob [Buckingham] on the 24th: they have been lent a car for the English part. News of Buckingham’s wife [May] not good; she has been very nice about wanting him to go.

c/o R. Buckingham, 137 Hartswood Road, Shepherds Bush, W. - Would like to come and see her on Tuesday morning rather than lunch: is stopping with Bob [Buckingham] which is quite close. They are just going in a car to see the baby.

reply to 26 Brunswick Square, W.C.1. - Cannot make Tuesday evening; asks if she might be able to come to tea: Bob Buckingham will come too. Has just arrived at Nottingham.

West Hackhurst, Abinger Hammer, Dorking. - Will try to ring up on Friday or Saturday to see how the visit to Whiting [see also 3/167] has gone. Is going to Knole for the weekend [to see Eddy Sackville-West?]. Encloses his article and one on him. The committee meeting [NCCL?] was 'interesting and polite', Virginia's play ["Freshwater", by Virginia Woolf"] 'interesting and funny', "[The Marriage of] Figaro" 'funny and polite. Bob Buckingham came with him to "Figaro". Forster's mother seems well.