T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 190

To: Dr. C. M. Doughty, All Souls College, Oxford, Aug. 7. 1920, Dear Mr. Doughty, I'm afraid I wrote too quickly; no doubt the business men are still drawing up the precise clauses of their contracts. Still I'll be in London on Tuesday, and will then go to Duckworth's and find out. The facts are roughly, that Mr. Lee Warner, of the Medici Society in Grafton St., who has published bibliophile editions of the classics (Virgil, Herodotus, Caesar, Apullius), and a few English books too new ones) has agreed to do an Arabia Deserta, subject to your approval. He proposes a limited edition of five hundred copies at £9. 9. 0. As these sell he will have made for new quite good additions he will have the book set up, ready for further, and I hope cheaper, editions. He wanted a new preface, and the use of my name on an introduction, because America has an idea that I know more about Arabia than anyone: so I may advertise you. It's a topsy-turvy world ! Your share was to be ten per cent. It is a poor return after so many years: but I hope you will agree to it, for this edition should raise the value of the book very much, and the subsequent editions ought to be profitable. The contract you sign ought to reserve your rights in all future editions, I think; but there is no one so little apt at business as myself, and I hope you will not take my advice !- I'd like a first-class portrait as a frontispiece: About my own book. I'm going in the next two or three months to re-write it in short form, as a sort of adventure, for America. It will appeal to Boy Scouts, I hope. This will keep me in Oxford, I'm afraid for the next time; otherwise I would have liked to come down: perhaps in the autumn. Please give my regards to Mrs. Doughty. Yours sincerely, T.E. Lawrence