LAWRENCE T. E.: (1888-1935)

LAWRENCE T. E.: (1888-1935)

‘I have sworn a great oath never to use or countenance the use of the name “Lawrence”,
as referring to me, again, in public or private’

 

LAWRENCE T. E.: (1888-1935) British army officer, archaeologist, diplomat and writer, renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916-18) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915-18) against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. An excellent A.L.S., T E Shaw, one page, folio, Karachi, India, 5^th January 1927, to an unidentified correspondent (although evidently a writer whom Lawrence held in some esteem). Lawrence announces, 'I have sworn a great oath never to use or countenance the use of the name “Lawrence”, as referring to me, again, in public or private', continuing 'So that would settle the question of my introducing your book, I'm afraid' and explaining 'Of course I write, or rather I try to write, occasionally: unsigned articles, or articles signed by virgin names. They are worth two guineas a thousand words, which I am told is a better rate than usual. They cost me more than that, in trouble, even at my R.A.F. rate of 3/6 a day! And no publisher would be moved to publish your work, because it had an unknown man's introduction before it.' Shaw, however, offers his advice and a further clarification of his decision to his correspondent, 'But why should you think an introduction necessary?......Probably the right man will take what you have written on its merits, and that should be much more gratifying than to be helped. I did twice, in the old days, help people by introducing their books: but one, Richard Garnett, was dead, and that pardoned the offence. The other, Doughty, was a special case: I had been trying to persuade all London to reprint him, and at last one beginning-publisher said “I will, if you'll preface it” :- and what could I do? Doughty was very nice about it: but it felt like scratching one's name on Westminster Abbey. Introductions to publishers I will (and do) willingly give. Several people with good stuff have been helped by me into print. It's a matter of knowing the proper tradesmen. Have you tried Cape? He is enterprising, and the best producer of commercial books in London (for format). If you will send me a sample of your stuff I'll see that it reaches his reader (Edward Garnett, a critic of genius) with my opinion. I have no doubt that it's the right stuff: and it should be exactly right for the particular public. If Cape says “NO”, I'd suggest Faber and Gwyer for second string: but Cape an easy first. Secker is too difficult: and the big men too staid'. A rare letter of fine content in which Lawrence affirms his desire for anonymity and proves himself to be a good guide in the intricacies behind the scenes of publishing. Some very light creasing and a few minor tape stains to the lower central area of the letter, only very minimally affecting a few words of text and part of the signature, otherwise about VG

Following his legendary exploits in Arabia, Lawrence had become a household name by the early 1920s and enlisted in the Royal Air Force in August 1922 as an aircraftman under the name John Hume Ross. However, less than a year later, his identity was exposed, and he was forced out of the RAF in February 1923. Changing his name once again, to T. E. Shaw, he repeatedly petitioned to re-join the RAF and was finally readmitted in August 1925. Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom was published in December 1926 and the renewed publicity it brought resulted in his assignment to bases as Karachi, from where the present letter was written, and Miramshah in British India, where he remained until the end of 1928.

Herbert Jonathan Cape (1879-1960) British publisher who founded the London publishing house of Jonathan Cape in 1921, remaining at the head of the firm until 1960. Cape established a reputation for high quality design and production and published a range of English-language authors including Robert Frost, Ian Fleming, James Joyce and T. E. Lawrence.

Edward Garnett (1868-1937) English writer, critic and literary editor who was instrumental in the publication of D. H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers. Edward Garnett was the son of Richard Garnett (1895-1906) English scholar, librarian, biographer and poet, who is also referenced in the present letter.