Lawrence (T.E.) Revolt in the Desert, working draft typescript, 61pp. printed on one side only on paper watermarked "Ryman Linen Bank British Made", some marginal creasing or occasional marginal chipping, numerous small ink autograph corrections, unbound, preserved in custom chemise and morocco-backed slip-case, 8vo, [c.1926-27].

⁂ A previously unknown working draft typescript of Revolt in the Desert with significant differences to the published work. Typescripts drafts of works by Lawrence are rare to the market, we can trace no like example at auction.

Following the publication of the costly Subscriber's Edition of Seven Pillars of Wisdom in 1926, Lawrence found himself bankruptcy and in need of an immediate source of funds. After considering the sale of his house or library, Lawrence eventually decided on the publication of an abridged version of his classic wartime account. Lawrence made initial edits to his work by crossing through a proof of Seven Pillars "using a brush and purple ink." (O'Brien, T.E. Lawrence: A Bibliography, p.93). This appears to be a subsequent attempted draft although it is notably shorter than the final published version with whole passages omitted or run together when compared to the final published work.

At times, it appears that Lawrence was yet to decide exactly how to relay certain events and has therefore left single-line paragraphs to be filled-out at a later date, for example the end of the chapter titled "Akaba, Suez, Allenby" (p.30) contains the following curtailed passages: "The Dufferin was detailed to take me to Jeddah for the new mission. The King came down from Mecca. The proposed transfer of Feisal to Allenby was accepted at once, King Husswin [sic] taking the opportunity to stress his complete loyalty to our alliance." These passages are filled out substantially in the finished text. The same chapter also includes brief biographies of General Sir Archibald James Murray and General Sir Archibald Lynden-Bell (pp.28-29) which were later removed.

The number of chapter headings is substantially smaller than those in the published version, totalling 16, compared to the 37 in the published version.

The corrections (generally very minor typographic changes) are made in black ink, similar to that used by Lawrence, though we have been unable to determine whether in the hand of the author or an editorial assistant.