T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 72

The text in the image reads: Bagley 19. xi. 29 2 LH 9/13/42 "The small-shot against the iron walls that I cannot think of all the good writers still in work. I suppose you rule out Joyce, Lawrence, Douglas, Gerhardt, Forster? There is such a rush of good books every year. I have read Peter Lavelle. The characters come well to life, in the middle of their lives, develop or disclose themselves a little, and go back into the dark. I like your architect, and your Colonel; not your villain, or your Socialist, or the woman. The War Memorial, and the estate are well done. The book exists, indubitably. It is by that much different from many of the 20 - 30 writers, who seem to write for relief, as an ape screeches himself. I am old-fashoned, and want my books to be so many square meals. The War Book I have not tack'ed yet. O'Flaherty has done a fine "Return of the Brute" since you began work, and while on leave I saw Seen O'Casey's "Tessie", which is magnificent; unalloyed genius in act II. Do see it, if you haven't yet. As for slices of life, and the digestive juices of imaginative reflection; I do not think we are really differing. I want a diary, or record of events to be as near slice-of-life as can be. Imagination jars in such instances. In novels however slice-of-life jars, because their province is the second-remove, the sublimation of the theme; see the difference between Set, Bourgeoys & Mer and Peace; or between War Birds and the Return of the Brute. One is eye-witness or ear-witness, & the other creative mind. In the first the photograph cannot be too sharp, for it's the senses which record; in the second you need design. Any care for design renders the record infect. Yours T E Shaw I've had a long day, and want to sleep; so here's good night.