T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 74

To John Brophy, Lelvin House, King Edwards Road, Ruislip, Middlesex Plymooth. 7.2.33 Dear J.B. I have been away for a few days, & find your letter waiting here. Beyond knowing that you had left London, I had no inkling of your movement. However, Liverpool is not so bad; any job is good, now-a-days. I'm afraid it is too far from Plymouth for my visiting. The R.A.F. gave me a boat-design-and building job, that taken me all along the S. coast, and keeps me busy. Books? I have not read so much lately. The letters & last poems of D.H.L. (letters revealing & whimsical; poems very fine; innumerable sins, with bad spots. What a poor character and big writer!) Your "Gold falcon" I have not seen or heard of. I know Faner (Geoffrey) and have helped him with opinions. Occasionally; but he did not offer me that. Let me see it, will you? H. Williamson is writing a Devon guide-book now, or so he told me. The Rocky Road I read and liked. I must read it again (and it is in my cottage, 100 miles away!) before venturing to tell its author my view upon it. I remember some points too clearly, & others less so. Patience will report. The English prose book I had not heard of, and would be glad to borrow. Unwilling passenger had a beauty of candour that was wonderfully restful. I agree with you upon its merit, as one of the finest photographs of war. The author (Osburn isn't, I think, his name ... I don't think the candour is innocent, either) must be a most remarkable figure in the R.A.M.C.! Guests of the Nation is good. So was the Shattered Dome, and not at all rhetorical. I haven't seen Smart's last book. Is he a shot, Oirleberkh began very well, and then got conceited and wrote himself into the mud. Cape has dropped him, which may stimulate him to do better. Otherwise he is finished.