2011 Reprint of 1935 Edition. Facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. "Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph" is the autobiographical account of the experiences of British soldier T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"), while serving as a liaison officer with rebel forces during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks of 1916 to 1918. Charles Hill has described this book as "a novel traveling under the cover of autobiography," capturing Lawrence's highly personal version of the ...
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2011 Reprint of 1935 Edition. Facsimile of the original edition, not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. "Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph" is the autobiographical account of the experiences of British soldier T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia"), while serving as a liaison officer with rebel forces during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks of 1916 to 1918. Charles Hill has described this book as "a novel traveling under the cover of autobiography," capturing Lawrence's highly personal version of the historical events described in the book. The Arab Revolt (1916-1918) was initiated by the Sherif Hussein bin Ali with the aim of securing independence from the ruling Ottoman Turks and creating a single unified Arab state spanning from Aleppo in Syria to Aden in Yemen. During the Arab Revolt of 1917-18 Lawrence based his operations in Wadi Rum (now a part of Jordan), and one of the more impressive rock formations in the area was named by Lawrence "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom". In the end, Lawrence decided to use this evocative title for the memoirs he penned in the aftermath of the war.
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A serious auto-biographical look at a world gone by from 1916 to 1918 by an archeologist turned soldier and full of detailed and well-written accounts of people and events at that time. Lawrence was a gifted writer. Like the title says this book is a triumph.
Maxine
Oct 26, 2013
Always a good read
I've read this book before and have always loved reading T.E. Lawrence's writings. His descriptions can be a bit technical and anthropological, but his descriptions of culture, environment, and place can transcend time and put you there if you let it.
Zachary J
Dec 16, 2010
Timeless
One must love history and have interest in the Middle East during the campaigns of WWI to appreciate this writing. Lawrence of Arabia was articulate, intelligent and is a great historical romantic figure.
Coastwatcher
Jul 9, 2009
A Treasure
I am absolutely delighted with this copy of one of the great works of English literature. It is a 1935 edition which contains not only illustrations and maps, but also excerpts of correspondence between Thomas E. Lawrence (hadn't know his name was Thomas until I got this copy) and his publisher which shows his great sense of humor.
If you can get a copy of this edition, do so while there are still some available.
onemadpom
Apr 2, 2009
'Seven Pillars...' is not just beautifully written (though that alone would be sufficient incentive to read it) - it traces the source of the soured relations between Europe and the Arab world following the Great War. Indeed, this tale of recruitment, arming and training of irregulars and their subsequent betrayal by foreign sponsors would be distastefully familiar subject matter for any observer of events of the 20th and early 21st centuries in the near and middle East. The promise of nationhood and self-determination to enlist help against a common enemy was dangled before the Arab peoples: a recognisable modus operandi, latterly to be visited time and again upon the restless and desperate.
Lawrence was "continually and bitterly ashamed" of the betrayal of the Bedouin, whose fierce loyalty and independence of spirit he clearly admired. It is sad, in many ways, that a similar vein of conscience is so signally absent from the characters who have latterly dabbled in the politics of the "Levant" - especially since, unlike Lawrence, they held the power to desist from their course.
This is in many respects a period-piece, and some of the author's attitudes may jar on a 21st century reader: however, the man was writing in and of his time, and to this reader at least, the integrity of his intent remains quite credible. I heartily recommend this book.
