Seven Pillars of Wisdom: T. Lawrence

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 century`s 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 O`Toole and Alec Guinness.