Abridgement contract

The eventual source of money to finance the work was a deal with Cape for an abridgement of SP, concluded at long last in March 1925. A version totalling about 120,000 words was to be delivered by 31st March 1926. The book would include as many black and white illustrations as Cape wanted, and publication was scheduled for the spring of 1927. Bernard Shaw scrutinised the contract. He was not in favour of an abridgement, and so Lawrence pointed out to him the particular importance of Clause 10, which gave him the right to halt further publication and sale of the book in England as soon as he had achieved his aim of paying off all the debts outstanding against the subscribers' edition. Shaw had a field day with the three page document, boldly striking out whole paragraphs and inserting new ones, and indulging in such inconsequentialities as removing the 'Esq' following Lawrence's name. If Cape had found Lawrence's non-signing of contract after contract a trial, he was no doubt equally disenchanted with this friendly interference at the final hurdle, although many of Shaw's amendments were later cancelled by Raymond Savage.

The agreement for War in the Desert, the proposed title of the abridgement, offered an initial payment of £1,500 plus a further £1,500 after six months. Lawrence signed in May, and the financial burden was eased once more.

Next section - 'Fish yet in the sea'

The writing of Seven Pillars of Wisdom - full listing