The letters

T. E. Lawrence was remarkable, among other things, for the quality of his letters. It is not just that they are interesting and well-written; they also provide intriguing links to different aspects of British life in the first half of the twentieth century. As many have discovered, an interest in Lawrence can quickly become a gateway to the history and culture of his time. He corresponded with writers such as John Buchan, E.M. Forster, David Garnett, Robert Graves, Siegfried Sassoon, and Bernard Shaw; artists such as Augustus John, Eric Kennington, Paul Nash, William Roberts and William Rothenstein; archaeologists and travellers such as Gertrude Bell, C.M. Doughty and D.G. Hogarth, and public figures such as Nancy Astor, Winston Churchill and Lord Trenchard. Lawrence's career and personality often provoked strong reactions in people he met. Some admired and respected him. Others questioned his achievements and resented his post-war enlistment. Someone's reaction to Lawrence often provides clues to their attitudes towards other topics.