Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Seven Pillars of Wisdom is the autobiographical account of T.E. Lawrence - also known as Lawrence of Arabia - of his service in the Arab Revolt during the First World War, published in Penguin Modern Classics.

Although continually and bitterly ashamed that the Arabs had risen in revolt against the Turks as a result of fraudulent British promises of self-rule, Lawrence led them in a triumphant campaign which revolutionized the art of war. Seven Pillars of Wisdom recreates epic events with extraordinary vividness. In the words of E. M. Forster, Round this tent-pole of a military chronicle, Lawrence has hung an unexampled fabric of portraits, descriptions, philosophies, emotions, adventures, dreams. However flawed, T.E. Lawrence is one of the twentieth centurys most fascinating figures. This is the greatest monument to his character and achievements, and formed the basis for the Oscar-winning film Lawrence of Arabia, staring Peter OToole and Alec Guinness.

This edition includes maps, drawings by Eric Kennington, and index of place names and a preface by A.W. Lawrence.

I am not much of a hero-worshipper, but I could have followed T.E. Lawrence over the edge of the world
John Buchan, author of The Thirty-Nine Steps