THE WHITE/GARNETT LETTERS

Dedicated to Sylvia Townsend Warner, who in her recent book ""has given us the real man,"" this is a supplementary portrait of T. H. (Terence Hanbury) White as revealed in the long correspondence he exchanged with David (""Bunny"") Garnett, here carefully edited to omit the tedious or libelous (not so tedious?). In any case, White does not appear in his more stuporous and/or cantankerous moments; only occasionally, say at the end when they are discussing their respective best books (The Master and Aspects of Love), does the tone become somewhat edgy in what was for the most part a very congenial va et vient for almost twenty years, furthered by mutual interests--particularly fishing and writing. Although one learns a little about Mr. Garnett and his family, there is even less about T. E. White whom be (Garnett) accuses rather snappishly of having had experience only ""with one human and two canine bitches"" particularly his dog Brownie whom he left alone only for three nights. Most of the letters, down to their childish signature, ""love from TIM"" reduce inevitably to a great many fugitive incidentals and the correspondence will not have a wide appeal to other than devotees of the once and future king of Arthurian storytelling.