le
Society the letters written to them when he was their representative in
Russia, and these he hoped to use as he had already used those written in
Spain. Ford encouraged him, saying: "Truth is great and always pleases.
Never mind nimminy-pimminy people thinking subjects _low_. Things are
low in manner of handling." In the midsummer of 1843 Borrow told Murray
that he was getting on--"some parts are very wild and strange," others
are full of "useful information." In another place he called the
pictures in it Rembrandts interspersed with Claudes. At first the book
was to have been "My Life, a Drama, by George Borrow"; at the end of the
year it was "Lavengro, a Biography," and also "My Life." He was writing
slowly "to please himself." Later on he called it a biography "in the
Robinson Crusoe style." Nearly three years passed since that meeting
with Mr. Petulengro, and still the book was not ready. Ford had been
pressing him to lift a corner of the curtain which he had gradually let
fall over the seven years of his life preceding his work for the Bible
Society, but he made no promise. He was bent on putting in nothing but
his best work, and avoiding haste. In July, 1848, Murray announced,
among his "new works in preparation," "Lavengro, an Autobiography, by
George Borrow." The first volume went to press in the autumn, and there
was another announcement of "Lavengro, an Autobiography," followed by one
of "Life, a Drama." Yet again in 1849 the book was announced as
"Lavengro, an Autobiography," though the first volume already bore the
title, "Life, a Drama." In 1850 publication was still delayed by
Borrow's ill health and his reluctance to finish and have done with the
book. It was still announced as "Lavengro, an Autobiography." But at
the end of the year it was "Lavengro: the Scholar--the Gypsy--the
Priest," and with that title it appeared early in 1851. Borrow was then
forty-six years old, and the third volume of his book left him still in
the dingle beside the great north road, when he was, according to the
conversation with Mr. Petulengro, a young man of twenty-one.

{picture: East Dereham Church, Norfolk. Photo: H. T. Cave, East Dereham:
page21.jpg}

CHAPTER III--PRESENTING THE TRUTH

"Life, a Drama," was to have been published in 1849, and proof sheets
with this name and date on the title page were lately in my hands: as far
as page 168 the left hand page heading is "A Dramatic History," wh