Don't read this book unless you're stubborn, like me.

[Neoma]

Lawrence of Arabia by Jeremy Wilson.

Goddamn, that book took about 7 months to read. (I also read 29 other books on the side, but still...) Despite it dragging on forever, I plan to read The Seven Pillars of Wisdon by T.E Lawrence. May my brain still be with me at the end.

[Chulanowa]

1. Think that's bad?

I've been gnawing through The 1,001 Nights for almost a year, and i'm only halfway into the first book of the set of three.

No paragraphs + "Theethou English" = hard reading

[Neoma]

2. I plan to read that someday.

Fortunately I don't have the books. :P

[pscot]

3. Apart from the long slog

was it worth reading? I've read Seven Pillars twice. I knew nothing about Laurence the first time, except for the movie, which didn't comport very well with the book. It helps if you already know something about him.

[Neoma]

4. It's a good overview of Lawrence, I think.

I can't say I understood it all, from all the places and people that was mentioned. But, I think it might help me understand the Seven Pillars of Wisdom when I tackle its pages.

[ffellini7080]

5. I loved the book

Same with the movie.

[david13]

6. Ah, the movie. I had heard how it begins. So I had to get it from

the library on dvd and watch. I watched the first 2 or 3 minutes. The fast forward on the rest.
Donald Sutherland as Lawrence.
You see, I ride a motorcycle. So that is our concern. And this story begins with Sutherland as Lawrence, old and retired, in England, at what age, 39? or so, starting up his Brough Superior motorcycle, and riding off into the English countryside. And crashing and dying. Apparently there were 2 boys on bicycles, and he swerved to avoid hitting them, and skidded and crashed, perhaps into a wall.
Thus his story begins with the end of his life, and story.
dc

[kumbaya]

7. Isn't it confusing that there is a D.H. Lawerence and a T.E. Lawrence?

In any case, both are fiction writers so...

[david13]

8. No, I don't think I'm confused. The Lawrence I speak of was

T.E.Lawrence, as mentioned in the original post. And no other reference was made to DH. DH had always seemed to me worlds apart.
And most importantly, I think TE was intended, or did intend himself to be ... non fiction.
Viz, our category.
DH is fiction, hands down.
TE well, has there been other controversy that he is fiction?
But, is that like calling Nixon (author) a fiction writer, but (yes or no) John Kennedy a non fiction writer?
?
dc

[kumbaya]

9. I didn't say YOU were confused; I said 'isn't it confusing' and it was

because they are both fiction writers and both have two initials instead of a first name, in addition to identical last names. Ya dig? And I just googled Sir Lawrence and did not know that "Seven Pillars" was a memoir, so I stand corrected.(Although he DID write "Lawrence of Arabia.") No insult intended towards you whatsoever:)

[Captain Hilts]

10. Churchill's chapter on Lawrence in "Great Contemporaires" is terrific, and often, funny. nt

[david13]

11. I wonder if you could expound on that. I saw a long bio, or several

on tv in the last few years, including the one by his great granddaughter? and I would like to know what his approach to Lawrence was. Did he like him or not, agree with him, etc. What else?
dc

[Captain Hilts]

12. He liked him, but thought he was kind of weird. "Lawrence was not in harmony

with the normal."

And that was Churchill saying that.

I do not know how they agreed or disagreed on the specific aspects of Middle Eastern policy. I'm kind of blank on that.

[david13]

13. Cryptic, I guess. What could Churchill mean by that. Not in harmony

with the normal. Did he mean he was of the homosexual persuasion.
Or just Churchill's definition of 'normal'.
Oh, ah, could it be consorting with the arab female? You know Lawrence did want to get deeply involved with the people and culture he was to approach. Maybe he went all the way, which Churchill, prude in that regard would not think right.
I can't read much on Lawrence because it necessarily involves in depth Anglo/Arab relations and politics. Too remote for me.
I just wanted to see Lawrence portrayed on his Brough Superior.
dc