T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 288

To: Lieut. Robin White, R.N., F.R.S. Antelope. From ... Plymouth, 10/11/31. Dear Lieutenant White You will have thought me very rude for not answering your letter before, but I have been on detached duty for months, tuning and testing some new types of motor- boats being built for the R.A.F. I had an interesting job which has entirely held up all my own affairs. Consequently the Odyssey is not finished. I have done book 21, and have 3 to do. The publisher wants it as soon as possible, to produce in the late autumn or next spring. It will probably be 12 guineas, and is not yet all subscribed. 500 copies. This bad season has killed the luxury book trade, like all other ... not every "Liwes" (sic Classic Inn Fleet St.) will be lucky if they sell the whole edition, now. I would like to give you a copy, but can only two, and both are earmarked already. I do not know what to say about the book. It is very well but plainly printed: very little decorated: plainer book. The translation is better than some, but plainly (definitely) than Samuel Bailey's. The thing does "verse" ... Its staidj and as an investment not vastly appeal to me, as not rook the Time- ... its not took the limited edition market. I saw Maurice Baring, who rolled into Plymouth on his Tiger months ago. He spoke of you. A strange, fey old creature, all foibles he bids, as for the last 20 years. Hornby is closing his Press, after the Thucydides. He has done such lovely work. His Quixote, his I fear. ... his Dante, his Morte d'Arthur, his Virgil .... dozens of them. The Italian "Revels" was licensed, I believe. The ... "Revels" passed out of my hands in 1877: and ownership of "Revels" fortunes. I do not follow the fortunes.