Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Seven Pillars of Wisdom is T.E. Lawrence's account of the First World War as it was fought in the deserts of the Middle East by the Arab tribes in revolt against their imperial masters, the Ottoman Empire. An elaborate work, critics have seized upon inaccuracies in the story as evidence of vanity and fantasy on Lawrence's part that led him to create and live out his own myth. Yet in Lawrence's own words his account 'does not pretend to be impartial' and there are sufficient hints as to his own inner turmoil regarding his role in the campaign, exemplified by his refusal to accept honours from the king because of the 'lies' told to the Arabs regarding self-rule, to convince the reader that the book is more than a mere vanity project.

Whatever the truth of the matter, the simple fact is that Seven Pillars of Wisdom is a remarkable piece of literature, an epic that is part traditional history and travel-writing and part philosophical work. It remains as testimony to one of the twentieth century's most intriguing figures.