Realistic objectives

In the past, like most self-employed people, I rarely acknowledged that one day I’d have to stop working. I enjoyed excellent health. ‘Retirement age’ was never an issue.

That changed in 2006, when I was ill for several months.  I realised that in 2014 – not so far away – I’d be 70. With luck I’ll be able to work long after that, but I can’t count on it.

It made sense to prioritise. In what field could I make the greatest contribution? The answer was obvious. I’d written T.E. Lawrence’s authorised biography and was committed to editing a major edition of his works and letters. That task benefits from a curious blend of inter-disciplinary knowledge about aspects of Lawrence’s life that I’ve built up during 40 years. It might be a long time before another editor came along with such a strange combination of expertise.

The edition is important because copies go to libraries and collections round the world. It brings together texts that a researcher might otherwise spend much time and money locating and copying. For example, material in the volume we are working on at present comes from four libraries in the US, two libraries in the UK, and two private collections. The authorised biography research archive, which we use when preparing notes, came from a far wider range of sources. Each volume in the Letters series contains a scholarly index. We are gradually integrating these in an online union index.

Occasionally, I hear  jibes that my work on T.E. Lawrence is becoming an industry (but what would they say if I decided to retire?!) The truth is that there’s lots I want to get done, and – being realistic – only limited time to do it. The Castle Hill Press edition of Lawrence’s works and letters will be a lasting contribution to scholarship. That’s doubtless why individuals and libraries subscribe.

So my principal aim, during the next few years, is to complete as much of the edition as I can. Nicole and I are working hard to achieve that.

My other chosen project is the Arab Revolt documents website – where there is currently more progress behind the scenes than online. Please be patient. It will be worth the wait.

Setting priorities means I can’t give time to all the things people would like me to do. The activities I choose are those that either contribute to our work (if only by raising money to help pay for research), or appeal to me for some other reason.  For example, I prefer to lecture abroad than in the UK simply because I enjoy travel!