Review (PDF) Revolt In The Desert: The Authorised Abridged Edition Of 'Seven Pillars Of Wisdom' (Tauris Parke Paperbacks)
T.E. Lawrence, also known as *Lawrence of Arabia,* wrote Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph from his memories of serving as a liaison officer with rebel forces during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks (1916-1918). Possessed of a brilliant military mind and an unmatched knowledge of the region and the Arab people, Lawrence led the revolt alongside the charismatic Faisal I, sounding the death knell for the Ottoman Empire and paving the way for a new colonial power in the region: the British. Writing from memory after his original manuscript and detailed notes were lost, Lawrence was able to privately publish a polished version of his autobiograhpical account in 1922. It is from this edition that he created the abridged version in 1927 which would become a best-seller, titling it Revolt in the Desert. This important historic work vividly portrays one of the most turbulent periods in the history of the Middle East while offering rich insight into one of Britain's esteemed national heroes.
Series: Tauris Parke Paperbacks
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Tauris Parke Paperbacks; Abridged edition (September 27, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1848856652
ISBN-13: 978-1848856653
Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1.1 x 7.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #508,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #72 in Books > History > Middle East > Saudi Arabia #158 in Books > Travel > Specialty Travel > Literary & Religious #172 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > World War I
I am a student of the Middle East and of T.E. Lawrence. Having never read (!) his "Seven Pillars of Wisdom", I chose to purchase this abridged edition, which he re-titled "Revolt in the Desert". I don't know why I expected Lawrence's actual writings to be less interesting than the many biographies which have been written about him, but having had those expectations, I was pleasantly surprised at how engaging this book was. This particular version is nicely printed in large enough text to add enjoyment to the reading itself. ( I often find paperbacks annoyingly difficult to read because of poor printing, tiny text, or overall cheapness of the binding, etc. ) Now that I have read this account, I am on to the full, best edition of "Seven Pillars of Wisdom" that I can find.
Lawrence of Arabia was an iconic figure. His writing is equally epic. "Revolt in the Desert" is so absorbing. The reader shouldn't get caught up in the complex world of Arab names and places. Just read the book for its wonderful melody -- like a great opera. Lawrence's death at 47 cheated the world out of more magnificent written works.
The book was interesting and well-written, but more of a historical description. It seems this is an abridged copy of his original work, and somewhat "sanitized" in that it has many personal issues removed. I'd have been more interested in some of that to help break up all the somewhat dry descriptions of battles. As a fan of the movie, I enjoyed the book. But in this case, I found to movie more interesting! At the least more exciting.So unless you are really interested in the historical aspects of these events, skip this one. If you really are interested in the historical time-line of these battles, this book will be excellent. Not interested in Lawrence or Arabia of that time, you might as well skip this one. You'll be bored.
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