LAWRENCE, T.E. (1888-1935). 'Lawrence of Arabia'.
Important and significant Autograph Letter Signed ('T.E. Shaw') to Mordaunt, 2 pages folio (a little dust-soiled and worn in the folds), Felixstowe, 12 November 1933. An exasperated protest at Mordaunt's indiscretion and the unauthorised publication of the last three chapters from The Mint.

'You've put me fearfully in the cart, anyhow! The Air Minsitry is wild at a serving airman shooting off his mind about the services.
 'Lord Trenchard is wild at my publishing part of the book that ten years ago I gave him my word of honour would not be published.
 'And poor Jonathan Cape says where is his option going!
 'Besides these great Powers my minor feelings hardly count, I suppose: but it was rather a shock. Even my little vanity as a writer was dashed by the way the stuff was edited. Alas and alas. I do wish you hadn't gone mad, suddenly. If only I'd not been lazy when a year ago you blew up suddenly and published in facsimile my letter to you about the Odyssey translation! I meant then to write and protest, for it hurt poor old Bruce Rogers' feelings no end. He designed the book and drew the cuts, and my (quite privately intended) opinion disappointed him. If I had stopped you then, this second blow-up would not have happened - whereas now we don't know where it will end. It may turn me into a premature civilian, to my lasting regret: it may land us all in the Police Courts. ...'

Lawrence continues by saying that Howard of Capes (the publishers) had been very decent and was trying to patch up the issue of the copyright (of which Lord Trenchard was the co-owner). He himself was dealing with the Air Ministry.
A major concern was that this typescript, which Mordaunt had given to Carroll (the first indication of who may have been responsible for the leak) appeared to be from a the typescript prepared for Edward Garnett in 1925. Lawrence is highly concerned that the remaining sixty-six chapters should not emerge into the public Domain.
It is evident that although Lawrence had given his word to Trenchard in 1928 that the book would not be published until 1950 (at the earliest) several typescripts or copies existed and had been circulated to various friends in his circle.
In a morocco-backed folding case, gilt lettered to the spine.
[No: 22522]