Aiming at the highest peaks: Wilfred Thesiger rewrites his first book
The explorer Wilfred Thesiger never intended to write a book about his travels, but in 1956 he was persuaded, and he began work on Arabian Sands. Thesiger’s old Eton friend Valentine ffrench Blake commented on the first draft, calling certain paragraphs ‘clumsy’ or simply ‘no good’. Thesiger was grateful for his friend’s advice and during the next three years the work was subjected to constant revision and proofing.
However, the meticulous revisions of the work took their toll and Thesiger became disillusioned with the whole thing. Thesiger’s literary agent Graham Watson of Curtis Brown had to persuade him not to throw in the towel, writing in a telegram that ‘those who aim at the highest peaks must be judged by the highest standards’. Watson was sympathetic but stern, insisting Thesiger labour through a steady working day even if redrafting was ‘darned discouraging work’ — good advice for any writer.
The words had the desired effect and Thesiger went on to complete Arabian Sands and a further eleven books. Thesiger maintained that Arabian Sands was his finest work.
By Ceri Brough, Project Archivist
