T. E. Lawrence — Revolt in the Desert

Florence and Frank Doubleday, and the Story of a Book

Lawrence in Arabia. Image: The Times

The Revolt in the Desert was written by T. E. Lawrence, and first published by Jonathan Cape in 1927, and as I’ve written previously the book is:

… actually a shortened version of Lawrence’s masterpiece, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, which is a detailed and very personal account of Lawrence’s exploits in Arabia fighting the Turks from 1916, with, at first, a small guerrilla force of tribal fighters that struck the Turkish forces as and when it chose, creating chaos and fear. Their success, and the military leadership that Lawrence showed, resulted in his campaign, that included the capture of Akaba, becoming a major part of the larger Middle East strategy, which led to the capture of Damascus, and the defeat of the Turkish forces.

It has always been a controversial book, with many questioning the accuracy of the military detail, forgetting that the book is much more than a military re-telling of what was considered by many to be a “ side show of a side show”, but a book that tells a very different story about personal endeavour, endurance, and sheer will-power, and a political will to bring disparate groups of people together to fight an enemy, and make cultural and political changes.

T.E. Lawrence was a multi-faceted character with mixed parentage. He was an accomplished archaeologist and an intellectual of the first order. He was also tough as old boots, yet gentle; had an iron will and was brave beyond bravery. He was also something of a chameleon who spoke many languages, and many Arabic dialects. He lied when it suited him, but then that’s often what writers, politicians and soldiers have to do.

He was also a writer with a gift for both poetic and clipped prose that has undoubtedly been an influence on literature of all genres.

Revolt in the Desert, first published in 1927, is a book of 318 pages, whereas Seven Pillars of Wisdom, first published commercially in 1935, is a book of 660 much larger pages.

Image of Revolt in the Desert: Jonathan Cape/ebay

Revolt in the Desert was originally intended by Lawrence for the US market (as a…