Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Seven Pillars of Wisdom is an autobiography by British soldier T.E. Lawrence, detailing the time he spent serving as a liaison officer with rebel forces during the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire, between 1916 and 1918. Completed in 1922 and published in 1926, it takes its title from a quote from the Book of Proverbs - “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars”. Prior to his experiences during the first world war, Lawrence was working on a book with the same title about seven great cities of the Middle East, and although he abandoned that project, he decided to reuse the title. Exploring themes of war, colonialism, and the experience of being a stranger in a strange land, Seven Pillars of Wisdom was rewritten multiple times from memory when Lawrence lost the original manuscript. The text was highly praised upon its release and remains widely read today, although some critics have said it resembles a novel more than an autobiography. It is best known for serving as the inspiration for the 1962 film, Lawrence of Arabia, directed by David Lean and starring Peter O’Toole and Omar Sharif, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Seven Pillars of Wisdom takes place against the backdrop of the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the Arab revolt in the Middle East. The book begins as Lawrence, an Oxford scholar, begins work for a museum on an archaeological dig in the Middle East, just as the First World War breaks out. He is soon commissioned into the British Army while working at the Euphrates, and joins the Hejaz expeditionary force. Lawrence functions as the British liaison to the Arab leadership, as they revolt against Turkish rule of the Middle East. The Arab region is still under the full control of the Ottomans, and Turkey has aligned with Germany against England. England believes that by undermining Turkey in their own territory, by supporting the Arabs, they will improve their chances in the wider war against Germany by neutralizing one of their allies.

A key figure in Lawrence’s mission is Sherif Hussein, the current Emir of Mecca. Those with the name “Sherif” are descended from the prophet Mohammed, and have special authority to rule over Mecca. His family has ruled Mecca for over nine hundred years, but he has been deposed by the Ottomans. Due to his status within Islam, the Emir is held as an honored captive in Constantinople, imprisoned but treated well. He has ensured that his four sons Ali, Abdulla, Feisal, and Zeid have been educated in elite schools and, since their father's imprisonment, they have returned to the Middle East and become leaders of the Arab revolt. Although the Arab lands are divided between different tribes, most recognize Sherif Hussein as their rightful leader. However, there is no organized army and with Sherif Hussein captured, the Arab revolt is disorganized. Service must be negotiated with the leaders of the tribe, and they only serve in their designated areas. Lawrence enters the fray with the goal of uniting the disparate tribes and creating a unified opposition to Ottoman rule.



The majority of the book is set in the deserts of Arabia, as Lawrence and his allies march through the desolate landscape in search of remote tribes to recruit to their cause. Lawrence narrates the events first hand as the caravan and their camels make their way to the various camps. Although Lawrence is an academic by trade, not a professional soldier, he makes an effective advisor to the Arab leadership, advising them on military strategy. He proves to have a talent for devising attacks and carrying out the specifics. He becomes an expert on wiring railroad bridges to explode, which makes it much more difficult for the Ottoman empire to keep its troops supplied. Eventually, Lawrence and his men are instrumental in the defeat of the Turks in the region when he blows up the bridges that supply the Turkish camps. This leads to the retreat of Turkish troops from the Jordan Valley, and the Arab army is able to move forward and recapture the city of Medina. Although Lawrence arrived as a stranger to the Arab lands, and was unfamiliar with Arabic thoughts and customs, he soon learns their language and way of life. He becomes close to Feisal in particular, seeing him as a friend and a brother in arms. He is encouraged to adopt Arab dress, and is accepted as one of the Arab leadership. By the end of the revolt, he is known by his men as Lawrence of Arabia. At the conclusion of the war, he returns to England, forever changed by his time in Arabia.

Thomas Edward Lawrence, better known a T.E. Lawrence, was a British archaeologist, military officer, diplomat, and author best known for his role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. He published three major writings in his lifetime, Seven Pillars of Wisdom, a translation of Homer’s Odyssey and the French novel, The Forest Giant. Better known as “Lawrence of Arabia”, his time in the desert has been immortalized in film, fiction, theater, and an authorized biography.