T. E. Lawrence

Seven Pillars of Wisdom

1. IDEA 1

   An officer joined an Arab revolt

   Lawrence, a British army officer, recounts his role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. He describes living and fighting alongside Arab forces in the desert.

2. IDEA 2

   Faisal led the revolt

   Lawrence describes Prince Faisal, a son of the Sharif of Mecca, whom he saw as the leader the revolt needed. In his account, Faisal's dignity, patience and standing among the tribes made him an ideal figurehead for the effort.

3. IDEA 3

   Guerrilla tactics worked

   Lawrence describes using mobile raids rather than large battles, exploiting the desert's vastness. In his account, small groups on camels could strike quickly and vanish, leaving a larger army unsure where to defend.

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