T. E. Lawrence. First American trade edition, first printing. Dust Jacket: Very Good. A price-clipped jacket. There is chipping on spine and edges, with a small piece missing on rear jacket. First state DJ. Hardcover: Very Good. New York: Doubleday, Doran and Company, 1935. Other than some writing on flyleaf, the book is clear of writing and markings, 672 pp. The book is illustrated with 48 plates, with no maps. Title and copyright pages both have 1935 date.
The book is considered one of the greatest and most personal military biographies of the century! Seven Pillars of Wisdom is an account of the authors experiences during the First World War. He's alleged to have embellished a lot of details in "Pillars", though it still offers as an informative memoir about the war. Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888-1935) became famous in his lifetime for his role during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, earning him the nickname "Lawrence of Arabia". He is best known for this work.
Seven Pillars of Wisdom was first printed in 1922 in an edition of eight copies for Lawrence's use, of which only six survive. It was followed by the 'Subscriber's' or 'Cranwell' edition in 1926, published privately in an edition of c. 211 copies and, as Lawrence wrote to the bookseller Henry Sotheran Ltd on 24 April 1925, 'this thing is being given only to my friends and their friends. The limited edition (1926) was distinctly different from its English trade edition counterpart. The first printing of the revised edition had 750 copies published. The author vowed "No further issue of the Seven Pillars will be made in my lifetime" when he faced bankruptcy following the privately printed edition of 1926. This first trade issue therefore followed in 1935, within weeks of Lawrence's tragic motorcycle accident.
This is a very scarce copy in jacket of this landmark memoir and inspirational story; basis of the acclaimed 1962 film "Lawrence of Arabia" directed by David Lean starring Peter O'Toole as T.E. Lawrence, considered by many among the best films ever made.
