Genius of Friendship: T. E. Lawrence
()
About this ebook
'Genius of Friendship', long out of print, is a memoir by Henry Williamson recounting his friendship with T. E. Lawrence – ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. This was a friendship through correspondence, for the two men actually met only twice. It had its beginning in a long letter critiquing Williamson's Hawthornden Prize-winning book 'Tarka the Otter' that Lawrence sent to Edward Garnett from India early in 1928, and which Garnett then forwarded to Williamson. The memoir quotes extensively from Lawrence’s letters to Williamson, which are both literary and personal in content, and make for fascinating reading. They continue up to Lawrence’s death in 1935; indeed, Lawrence’s last act, before his fatal motorcycle accident, was to send a telegram to Williamson arranging a meeting; he crashed while returning from the post office. The telegram is reproduced as a frontispiece to the book.
Henry Williamson
The writer Henry Williamson was born in London in 1895. Naturalist, soldier, journalist, farmer, motor enthusiast and author of over fifty books, his descriptions of nature and the First World War have been highly praised for their accuracy. He is best known as the author of Tarka the Otter, which won the Hawthornden Prize for Literature in 1928 and was filmed in 1977. By one of those extraordinary coincidences, Henry Williamson died while the crew were actually filming the death scene of Tarka. His writing falls into clear groups: 1) Nature writings, of which Tarka the Otter and Salar the Salmon are the most well known, but which also include, amongst many others, The Peregrine's Saga, The Old Stag and The Phasian Bird. 2) Henry Williamson served throughout the First World War.The Wet Flanders Plain, A Patriot's Progress, and no less than five books of the 15-volume Chronicle of Ancient Sunlight (How Dear is Life, A Fox Under My Cloak, The Golden Virgin, Love and the Loveless and A Test to Destruction) cover the reality of the years 1914–1918, both in England and on the Western Front. 3) A further grouping concerns the social history aspect of his work in the 'Village' books (The Village Book and The Labouring Life), the four-volume Flax of Dream and the volumes of the Chronicle. But all of these groups can be found in any of his books. Some readers are only interested in a particular aspect of his writing, but to truly understand Henry Williamson's achievement it is necessary to take account of all of his books, for their extent reflects his complex character. The whole of life, the human, animal and plant worlds, can be found within his writings. He was a man of difficult temperament but he had a depth of talent that he used to the full. The Henry Williamson Society was founded in 1980, and has published a number of collections of Williamson's journalism, which are now being published as e-books.
Read more from Henry Williamson
The Lone Swallows Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Genius of Friendship
Titles in the series (20)
On the Road: Contributions to the Weekly Dispatch, 1920-1921: Henry Williamson Collections, #6 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDays of Wonder: Contributions to the Daily Express, 1966-1971: Henry Williamson Collections, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsChronicles of a Norfolk Farmer: Contributions to the Daily Express, 1937-1939: Henry Williamson Collections, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHeart of England: Contributions to the Evening Standard, 1939-1941: Henry Williamson Collections, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Novels of Henry Williamson: Henry Williamson Collections, #17 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Breath of Country Air: Henry Williamson Collections, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFrom a Country Hilltop: Henry Williamson Collections, #9 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWords on the West Wind: Selected Essays from The Adelphi, 1924-1950: Henry Williamson Collections, #8 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpring Days in Devon, and other Broadcasts: Henry Williamson Collections, #14 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIndian Summer Notebook: A Writer's Miscellany: Henry Williamson Collections, #10 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAtlantic Tales: Contributions to The Atlantic Monthly, 1927-1947: Henry Williamson Collections, #7 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGreen Fields and Pavements: A Norfolk Farmer in Wartime: Henry Williamson Collections, #13 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Clear Water Stream: Henry Williamson Collections, #11 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Notebook of a Nature-lover: Henry Williamson Collections, #12 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGenius of Friendship: T. E. Lawrence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPen and Plough: Further Broadcasts: Henry Williamson Collections, #16 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRecreating a Lost World: Henry Williamson and Folkestone 1919-20: fact into fiction: Henry Williamson Collections, #18 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related ebooks
Atlantic Tales: Contributions to The Atlantic Monthly, 1927-1947: Henry Williamson Collections, #7 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAcross China's Gobi: The Lives of Evangeline French, Mildred Cable, and Francesca French of the China Inland Mission Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Women of the Arabs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAndersen's Fairy Tales Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Brief History of the Pilgrims Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTales From Scottish Ballads Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAustralian Poetry Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsColumbus And The Journey To The New World Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Sacrifice Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Girl Sailing Aboard the Western Star Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Birds of Paradise: A Novel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5From Spain to Texas: A Cepeda Y Ahumada Family Journey Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Martyr of the Catacombs Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5A Love of Conviction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRip Van Winkle Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe League of the Scarlet Pimpernel Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5In Their Own Words: Letters from History Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Heroes, or Greek Fairy Tales for My Children Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Ladies' Knitting and Netting Book Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5The Man from Snowy River and Other Verses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWith The Cameliers In Palestine Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOver the Mountains of the Sea: Life on the Migrant Ships 1870–1885 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLyra Heroica A Book of Verse for Boys Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEmpress Wu Zetian Activity Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLadies-in-Waiting Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWHAT KATY DID AT SCHOOL - More adventures of Katy Carr Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Nicest Girl in the School A Story of School Life Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Day of Doom; Or, a Poetical Description of the Great and Last Judgement Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Personal Memoirs For You
I'm Glad My Mom Died Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Stolen Life: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Glass Castle: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Child Called It: One Child's Courage to Survive Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Just Mercy: a story of justice and redemption Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Son of Hamas: A Gripping Account of Terror, Betrayal, Political Intrigue, and Unthinkable Choices Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: the heartfelt, funny memoir by a New York Times bestselling therapist Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bad Mormon: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Becoming Free Indeed: My Story of Disentangling Faith from Fear Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Pity the Reader: On Writing with Style Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everything I Know About Love: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dry: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Yes Please Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mommie Dearest Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5How to Be Alone: If You Want To, and Even If You Don't Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5You Could Make This Place Beautiful: A Memoir Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, A History, A Memorial Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Many Lives of Mama Love (Oprah's Book Club): A Memoir of Lying, Stealing, Writing, and Healing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Stash: My Life in Hiding Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Solutions and Other Problems Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5
Related categories
Reviews for Genius of Friendship
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Genius of Friendship - Henry Williamson
First published by Faber and Faber Ltd 1941
This edition published by the Henry Williamson Society 1988 to celebrate the centenary of the birth of T. E. Lawrence
E-book edition 2014
Smashwords edition
The Henry Williamson Society
14 Nether Grove
Longstanton
Cambridge
Text © The Henry Williamson Literary Estate
Telegram reproduced by kind permission of the Henry Williamson Literary Estate
(Beaver Photography, by courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery)
ISBN 978-1-873507-65-0 (EPUB)
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright holders.
Contents
Genius of Friendship
GENIUS OF FRIENDSHIP
‘T. E. LAWRENCE’
In the summer of 1929, when 338171 Aircraftman T. E. Shaw, R.A.F., was generally known to be at Cattewater, Plymouth, a certain woman living in South Devon desired greatly to have ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ sit at her table. ‘ Do persuade him to come’ she begged of a mutual acquaintance. Shaw was translating Homer—‘sweating every spare hour I get over old Odysseus, a new version of whose adventures I am producing (on a cash basis) for a very rich American. Hope he likes it better than I do—but the cash will be superb when it is all over.’ At that time meeting new faces was for him worse than riding at night into the glare of headlamps, then never dropped for courtesy’s sake. Even his friends would not let ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ alone; so he could seldom lose that Frankenstein consciousness. Being extremely sensitive and kindly, he was always being with his friends what they expected him to be, reflecting their interest in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. He was thereby much self-entangled. On this particular occasion the acquaintance was persuasive. ‘They’re awfully nice people, I’m sure you’ll like them.’ At last Shaw agreed to go, and to a dinner party. ‘I don’t think I ever want to meet a famous man again,’ declared the hostess afterwards. ‘He never once looked at me, or at any other guest. He refused to shake hands. I felt a perfect fool. He said nothing. He refused to eat. Hors d’oeuvre?
No thank you.
Soup?
No thank you.
Sherry?
No thank you.
Some water?
No thank you.
Fish?
No thank you.
But surely you’re going to eat grouse?
May I just have a little fried potato, please?
"But you must have some of this delicious bird, Mr. Shaw.
Really, no thank you.
But don’t you ever eat normal food?
Frequently.
What do you like, as a rule? ’ Shaw began to feel it was funny. He told the truth. ‘
Tea and wads.
Whatever are wads, Mr. Shaw? He explained, sitting motionless in chair, hands folded inertly on lap.
I am sorry we haven’t a canteen here, Mr. Shaw, since so obviously you seem to prefer your own food." His face got heavier and more stupid, and I was very glad when he got up and went.’ The story as the good woman tells it is of course a self-criticism; which one day she may perceive.
A few years earlier ‘T. E. Lawrence’ would perhaps have remained less silent or monosyllabic. One of his friends tells how, at another party, a somewhat pretentious lady was telling anecdotes, most of them about titled people to whom she referred by nick-names and pet-names. Seeing that her listener was not interested, she leaned forward and said, ‘I fear my conversation does not interest Colonel Lawrence very much?’ Lawrence bowed from the hips, and murmured impassively, ‘It does not interest him at all.’ He intended the reply as a joke, a sort of truthful joke—while realizing it couldn’t possibly come off as a joke in that atmosphere. In those days, soon after the Armistice, his power had no direction, and was used directly, personally, often scornfully; he was quicksilver; later he became impersonal, shutting off his power with uneasy people, conserving his energy, becoming inert. Later still, when he ceased to strain and had found his poise in the ranks of the R.A.F., he grew less self-insubstantial, and easily sure of himself. No longer did he have, as it were, to unscrew his eyes to look at anyone in conversation; he no longer used the retina’s sensitivity to discern his companion, as he gazed downwards with unfocussed sight. He held his head up, and one felt his sure impersonal strength, constructively critical, clear, understanding every intricacy of human impulse; because he understood the intricacies of himself. ‘I am a chameleon,’ he once said to me. Every child is a chameleon, in that sense, taking colour from its surroundings, absorbing ideas, sayings, attitudes, from its elders. So are all young mammals, birds, and even fish. Only those who have not needed to strive to maintain their life or integrity remain static.