In Seven Pillars of Wisdom we have a timely book, and one that will remain timely into the foreseeable future. In Lawrence we have an impeccable witness; not a diplomat, not a politician, not a lobbyist, but a scholar and a soldier who embodied that vestige of chivalry that has now all but vanished. He records what he saw and what he undertook, living among those warriors whom he led in a manner seldom experienced by any other officer. Hence, Lawrence had empathy for the Arabs that will hopefully be of keen interest to the ...
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In Seven Pillars of Wisdom we have a timely book, and one that will remain timely into the foreseeable future. In Lawrence we have an impeccable witness; not a diplomat, not a politician, not a lobbyist, but a scholar and a soldier who embodied that vestige of chivalry that has now all but vanished. He records what he saw and what he undertook, living among those warriors whom he led in a manner seldom experienced by any other officer. Hence, Lawrence had empathy for the Arabs that will hopefully be of keen interest to the present generations who are fed a daily diet of Islamophobia and Arabophobia, literally 'anti-Semitism', since it is the Arabs who are the sons of Shem. The picture given by Lawrence is of a people very different from today's media and Hollywood stereotypes that are part of a propaganda offensive to justify a genocidal war against a people and a faith which could not only have co-existed with, but which could have remained as firm friends, with the West on the basis of the friendship that had been cultivated by Lawrence. As Seven Pillars shows, the 'West' and the Arabs and all of Islam are now embroiled in a conflict that has it's roots in the diplomatic duplicity during World War I, which has brought chaos to a large expanse of the world, and which shows no signs of abating in the lifetime of any reader of this book. Lawrence here sets the dramatic background against which this tragedy is being played out.
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PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
Choose your shipping method in Checkout. Costs may vary based on destination.
Seller's Description:
PLEASE NOTE, WE DO NOT SHIP TO DENMARK. New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot offer an expedited shipping service from the UK.
The foundation for our present crises in the Mideast was laid at the close of the Great War. Lawrence was, of course, intimately involved in the Arab Revolt and their betrayal by the Imperial powers in the aftermath of the War. This book is the starting point for any understanding of today's Mideast. More than that, it's a book of high adventure, well-told.
oddjohn
Jul 15, 2010
Rediscovering a classic
Recently I was reminded of this book while reading a history of wartime deception in military tacics. I remembered reading about T.E. Lawrence's "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" when I was younger. This book is a glance back at history not seldom discussed in contemporary education. A great read.
WilliamC
Nov 26, 2009
EXCELLENT
Very good read, gets you alot of middle east culture and what was there then versus now. It may surprize you, it did me.
NOLA
Sep 4, 2008
Finding an old friend
I adore this book. Many years ago when I was 13 years old, I found a copy of this in a wonderful old book store. I kept it for 40 years, picking it up from time to time and finding things I'd missed or was too young to understand the first time I read it. Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent levee failure brought over 5 feet of water into my house. I lost about two thirds of my books. I had put them up, but never expected so great a flood. Slowly, but surely I am replacing my favorites. To be able to find the same edition was fantastic. Thank you Alibris.
DeniseK
Aug 23, 2007
A Great Read!
Lawrence knew how to tell a tale. Whether it's all true is another matter. Maps and line drawings bring the saga to life. No question that the events, misunderstandings, and betrayals depicted here lay the groundwork for much of the current state of affairs. Timing really is everything. The presence of this particular person, with his shrewd ability to promote himself, blend into the culture, as well as write, during a crucial period for the region gives the reader an understanding which is lacking from other sources.