Contents lists
Updated June 2012
T. E. Lawrence to C. M. Doughty
[Carlton Hotel, Pall Mall, London, crossed out]
25.12.18
Dear Mr. Doughty,
It is exceedingly good of you to have written to me: and it happened just when I had made up my mind that I must write to you, and tell you that I had been over much of your country, (more securely and comfortably, but in somewhat the same fashion) meeting many of the people, and sons of the people who knew you out there. It has been a wonderful experience, and I have got quite a lot to tell.
I'm afraid it is not likely to be written for publication, since some of it would give offence to people alive, (including myself!) but I hope to get it put on paper soon.
When I can, I want to come down to Eastbourne and see you. That will not be till after the Peace Conference, I expect. Meanwhile I must tell you that I got a copy of Arabia Deserta the other day: the genuine edition!
I'm too late for Christmas: but my very best New Year wishes.
Yours sincerely,
T. E. Lawrence
P.S. I haven't any initials after my name - except B.A., which it is unusual to put!
| Source: | DG 271 |
| Checked: | jw/ |
| Last revised: | 14 January 2006 |
T. E. Lawrence chronology
1888 16 August: born at Tremadoc, Wales
1896-1907: City of Oxford High School for Boys
1907-9: Jesus College, Oxford, B.A., 1st Class Hons, 1909
1910-14: Magdalen College, Oxford (Senior Demy), while working at the British Museum's excavations at Carchemish
1915-16: Military Intelligence Dept, Cairo
1916-18: Liaison Officer with the Arab Revolt
1919: Attended the Paris Peace Conference
1919-22: wrote Seven Pillars of Wisdom
1921-2: Adviser on Arab Affairs to Winston Churchill at the Colonial Office
1922 August: Enlisted in the Ranks of the RAF
1923 January: discharged from the RAF
1923 March: enlisted in the Tank Corps
1923: translated a French novel, The Forest Giant
1924-6: prepared the subscribers' abridgement of Seven Pillars of Wisdom
1927-8: stationed at Karachi, then Miranshah
1927 March: Revolt in the Desert, an abridgement of Seven Pillars, published
1928: completed The Mint, began translating Homer's Odyssey
1929-33: stationed at Plymouth
1931: started working on RAF boats
1932: his translation of the Odyssey published
1933-5: attached to MAEE, Felixstowe
1935 February: retired from the RAF
1935 19 May: died from injuries received in a motor-cycle crash on 13 May
1935 21 May: buried at Moreton, Dorset