Lawrence of Arabia Author:Jeremy Wilson T.E. Lawrence was one of the most romantic figures to emerge from the First World War, his exploits while serving as British liaison officer in the Arab Revolt catching the imagination of the British public. His fame increased further when The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, his account of his wartime experiences, was hailed as a literary masterpiece. ... more »It became regarded as a classic, and provided the inspiration for the David Lean film. Throughout the 1920s Lawrence, like many of his contemporaries, remained deeply affected by wartime trauma. Close to breakdown, he enlisted in the RAF under an assumed name, and remained in the ranks until 1935. From the security of the barrack-room he carried on a remarkable correspondence with writers, artists and politicians. He retired from the RAF to his cottage in Dorset, Clouds Hill, where he planned to set up a private press, but a few weeks later, following a motor-cycle accident, he died. In this short biography, Jeremy Wilson rescues the man from the legend, and sets out the achievements in war, diplomacy and literature that made him one of the most famous Englishmen of his generation.« less