T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 559

Miranshah 10/10/89 Dear Isham Here is a note, to Emery Walker, which explains itself. O.K. it to Bruce Rogers, then the business will all be ours, and there will remain the grind of translating for me; and to top it off, for all of us, the delight of a really greatly-produced book at its end. About your books. I daren't own a set of them. I have no place to keep anything. The life in barracks is all a common life. Everything choice is ruined by rough handling. Also I am inevitably affected (I'd be a monster if not) by my six years service; and I'm therefore like them. The very fine things are too fine for me, now. I will have great pleasure some day, when I get back to England, of seeing a set somewhere, and of handling them, and reading them; but as property they would be too much for me. Please don't be hurt by my saying this. It's only that I don't want, what will undoubtedly be a treasure, wasted. Send me some odd proof sheets. I like peeping into people's workshops. You have conferred a great benefit on me, by this scheme of an Odyssey. That cottage in Dorset will be mine, in consequence; and the surplus will get me a motor-bike, and make my 1930-35 years in England very good. I am exceedingly grateful for your care of my interests. I'd never have asked a quarter the money, myself. Yours, T. E. SHAW