Includes index.

This second part of Sir John Rothenstein's autobiography begins with his taking up his duties as Director of the Tate Gallery, which he faced a discouraging situation. The Gallery's administration had collapsed the previous year; there was no official purchasing grant; the Turner Bequest was in lamentable condition and largely unknown; the leading artists of the emerging generation were unrepresented. Before he had time to make more than a beginning the War broke out, the collection was dispersed to places of safety, and the Gallery suffered heavy damage from bombing. With the return of peace Sir John applied himself to the task of securing the repair of the building, the re-construction of the collection, and the forming of an administration. In 1946 the Tate was partially reopened and for the first time a purchasing grant was established. The six years that followed were, Sir John believes, the most fruitful of his directorship. But in 1952 there came a savage attack on him.

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