My dear Bob,

This letter, I know, will be reaching you at a time of mixed emotions for you: joy at the reunion which you will recently have had with your wife and children; sadness that it has passed so quickly. My prayers, as always, are that the spirit and courage of both you and your family will be maintained, and that your ordeal will soon come to an end. These prayers are especially strong at the start of this New Year; 1964, thank God, is over and no year could be worse than it was.

I am now looking forward to your wife's return to Johannesburg to have first-hand news of you. I hope that, in seeing her, you found that neither she nor the children are lacking for anything.

Your letter of December 7 was gladly received. I have sent you the books you wanted, together with a few others, via Vanguard Books of Johannesburg.

The parcel of 20 books comprises:

Please let me know whether the choices are suitable ones. As far as I can recall, I have not previously sent you any of these books. But if I have, try and return duplicates to me so that I can change them. In the meantime, much happy reading! Incidentally, I think you would like to know that the money for the books came from a variety of people, including Jill and Ernie Wentzel, Allister Sparks, Jill Chisholm, Terry Bell, Peter Hazelhurst, Lawrence Mayekiso, Terence Clarkson, Tim Rossi, Mike Phahlane and others (all newspaper colleagues of mine).