16 DECEMBER 1966, page 20

Brief Chronicles

Winter's Tales 12. Edited by A. D. Maclean. (Macmillan, 25s.) Exiles. By Gordon Meyer. (London Magazine Editions, 6s. 6d.) The Fencing Master. By Gilbert Rogin. (Cape, 21s.)......

The New Girl

The new girl with violent hair Ignored me daily on the stair Her glance-away was like a stare 1 make my own disasters Across the sky I saw her hand A bundle into a waiting hand......

Some Lives

Life is a Four - Letter Word (Cassell, 42s.) is the first, long (530 - odd pages) instalment of Nicholas Monsarrat's autobiography. It is at once leisurely and impassioned,......