T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 388

To James Hanley, 13. 6. 33. Isle of Wight. 13. VI. 33 Dear Hanley I should have written to you weeks ago to say how much I liked the Captain - but then, what a gulf between what I should have done, and what I do. And ..."s me. However the delay is so far good that Marshall & I have ... over your pleasure in the book and agreed upon it. It is very very good, and marks an enlargement of your universe. The significant people, to me, were the chief, Lancelot & the ..."e, the woman was a ghost only, credible enough, & filling her ... part, but not alive; while the chief characters did not differentiate enough at moments of crisis they talked too much like J.H.! The ship is most excellent, really "seen", and all the operational characteriza- tion most admirable. As I said, you have enlarged your world; it is now as good to feel that here's an Irishman who has written, may "look" and at the same time, Long may it continue. Your next-best thing before ..."'d, seems to me to be that delineation of your boiler-scaling lad and his mother. That was beautifully done as a pair. I's only have had one change in the book - a shorter combustion of ..."g in the end. It went up - or down, rather. I ... my pace, towards the climax. That's and, galloping to be in at the death; but I couldn't wait for it. I made in about 3 minutes, instead of the ... I should have taken; and I read it ..."y. And I despised myself for skipping; while I did it. You must not over-tempt your readers. The skipping thing happened to me at the climax of Sheila Moynihan, which in why I mention it. No more paper. Command me to the L.P. ..."l; and remember me to Mrs H. I have never ..."ied so well, and sales looking ..."er! T E. Shaw. I hope the brat is as not without his share of original sin! You would suffer if you begat a saint.