The two ‘Michaels’ were strange bedfellows, anxious to ‘talent spot’ as many young ladies as they could. Ivens published one of my poems  ‘The Ophelia Syndrome’  in ‘Twentieth Century’; and then gave me several books by Ivy Compton-Burnett and Wallace Stevens to review. I dutifully ploughed through Ivy’s work ( excellent discipline), and then Michael decided to educate me further by introducing me to the work of Thornton Wilder ( I read everything by him), and the incomparable Max Beerbohm.

I’m indebted to Michael for broadening my reading.

Hence, my meeting with William Gerhardie. All part of Michael’s intellectual ‘grooming’ of me, and much appreciated.