16 JANUARY 1953, Page 20

THE Midwinter issue - of Wessex Letters fi - oin Springhead, obtainable from

the Secretary, The Springhead Ring, Fontwell Magna, Shaftes- bury, Dorset (2s. post free), is devoted to the memory of the late H. J. Massingham, whb died last year and whose contributions to the Spectator towards the close of his life will be remembered by many readers. The booklet reprints an article by Massingham, " Village Bedrock," and includes appreciations of him by Arthur Bryant, Adrian Bell, Edmund Blunden, and others, as well as an impressive bibliography of his published works. His last book, Prophecy of Famine, written in collaboration with Edward Hyams, is due from Thames and Hudson at the beginning of March.