Description
8vo 454pp Hardcover contemporary rebind with quarter brown morocco to yellow-orange cloth with five raised bands on spine and gilt lettering on green in second and fourth segments with 1927 date and no d/w to display the binder’s art. As with its sister volume from 1955, the cover is in pristine unmarked condition with teg and yellow ribbon page marker present and intact, text is likewise in perfect condition o/t light age yellowing of all pages. No prior owner markings ,very neat book-plate of Michael Matantos adhered to front pastedown with beautiful endpapers still in pristine condition as well. To be sold with its likewise uniformly rebound sister volume (7 Pillars 1955), This is the story of the Middle East in the early 20th century – through the eyes of arguably two of that period’s greatest Englishmen – Robert Graves and Lawrence of Arabia. Beginning his life-long affair with the Middle East, T.E Lawrence made his first journey to the region, a four month walking tour of Syria studying the Crusaders’ castles, while still a student at Oxford. He later returned to the area as an archeologist and at the outbreak of World War I was attached to British Army intelligence in Egtpt. In 1916 he set out on his greatest adventure. With no backing, Lawrence joined Arab forces facing almost insurmountable odds in a rebellion against Turkish domination. His brilliance as a desert war strategist made him a hero among the Arabs, a legendary figure throughout the world, and earned him the moniker Lawrence of Arabia. Lawrence, though, had a major dislike of publicity and, at the time Graves began writing this book, had begun a life of self-imposed obscurity as T.E. Shaw, an anonymous RAF soldier.First published in 1927, Grave’s biography remains a unique study of Lawrence. As a close personal friend (Lawrence had earlier saved the aspiring poet from bankruptcy), Graves was the only biographer to write with Lawrence’s permission and cooperation, enabling Graves to bring to this intensely personal book, the precision and insight that was necessary to separate the man from the myth.Several rare photos, illustrations and maps are included throughout. Overall a stunningly beautiful pair of expertly rebound volumes.