60 Great Books - 35 - Bauman Rare Books “I Kept This, & Read It, Without Too Many Bad Moments”: T.E. Lawrence’s Own Copy Of Robert Graves’ Biography Of Him, Later Inscribed And Presented By Lawrence 33. (LAWRENCE, T.E.) GRAVES, Robert. Lawrence and the Arabs. London, 1927. Octavo, original orange cloth, custom chemise and half morocco slipcase. $28,000. First edition of Robert Graves’ biography of T.E. Lawrence, one of only two authorized Lawrence biographies, Lawrence’s own copy, inscribed for a later gift presentation: “GMD:K. I kept this, & read it, without too many bad moments, before sending it to you, as I promised. Graves’ poems are, however, really good. T.E.S.” Robert Graves’s biography of his friend was one of only two authorized by Lawrence. It was also Graves’ first work of non-fiction, written at age 31 and published two years before Goodbye To All That. “Lawrence was deeply concerned with posterity… He also wrote to his living biographers, Robert Graves and Basil Liddell Hart, and through them became an accessory in the making of his own legend… All these biographies sold well, evidence of the extent and endurance of Lawrence’s appeal to the interwar generation” (ODNB). Seeking some level of anonymity, Lawrence had changed his name in 1922 to John Hume Ross, and then when that subterfuge was discovered by the press, in 1923 to T.E. Shaw— thus the use of the initials “T.E.S.” in the present inscription. Publisher’s advertisement slip tipped in before index. Illustratedwithmaps and photographic plates. O’Brien E030. Reese, Graves 25. Two moroccogilt bookplates; booklabel affixed to chemise. Old dealer description and auction slip laid in. Interior clean, mild soiling to cloth, mild rubbing to corners. A near-fine copy. “Lawrence and the Arabs is a glorious book.” —Steve Newman, Medium
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