T. E. Lawrence to Edward Garnett

16.12.23.

I enclose (for return) Sassoon's letter. Such expressions of pleasure it's hardly decent to hand about.

He likes the chapters in which I ramble round among the cobwebs of my own mind - those you wanted cut! Quaint, isn't it? He also likes others, which you praised.

That's one infuriation of letters, of all artistic effort... their lack of an absolute. It was my first grumble to you.

It's mad of Lane to pay for my profound introduction... and I'll write it if I can, and confess to you if I can't. There's one good thing about cheques... they are delicate things, quick to disappear if you feel them unearned.

Thanks for the two books (not read yet, but what can you expect? I'm passing a particularly bad time just now: a sort of sentient tennis-ball....) can I have the reprinted pamphlets?

No please, no literary studies of anyone. I'm unfitted by my present for such.

Dead Souls was very good. I read an edition of it some while ago.

This is a 'duty' letter, evoked by thankfulness for your books, and written with one eye on your letter. So no more of it. I'm not in the mood.

T.E.

Address now of everything: Clouds Hill, Moreton, Dorset. I've agreed to revise and print 100 copies of the complete Seven Pillars, with illustrations, if so many subscribers at 30 guineas can be found to meet the estimated bills of £3,100. Am I mad? Please tell Cape.

L.

Note. The following spring Lawrence wrote an introduction to The Twilight of the Gods and Other Tales by Richard Garnett, Edward Garnett's father. It was published by John Lane in 1924.