T.E. LAWRENCE. Introduction by Elizabeth Longford

London: George Weidenfeld and Nicolson Limited and Book Club Associates, 1975. First Edition. With a great profusion of illustrations throughout, both in colour and black and white, many being double page. Large 8vo, publisher's original maroon cloth, the upper cover and spine lettered and decorated in gilt, in the pictorially decorated dustjacket. 232 pp A fine copy with a bit of mellowing to the spine panel and a light bit rubbing at the tips of the jacket. FIRST EDITION. The publisher notes that the author discusses the elusive personality of a man 'who commanded the respect and friendship of such outstanding fugures as Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Allenby, Robert Graves, George Bernard Shaw, and perhaps above all, Shaw's wife Charlotte. The book is illustrated with many contemporary photographs and paintings.
Both at the Versailles Peace Conference and as Churchill's adviser during the Cairo Conference of 1922, Lawrence's aim was as much to keep the French out of Syria as to keep Feisal that country's king. Perhaps it was his disappointments in public life perhaps more complex reasons, which led him to search for ostensible obscurity as a ranker in the Army and the RAF. Ironically, while he struggled to find peace as Aircraftman Shaw, the legend of 'Lawrence of Arabia' was exciting the world. He died tragically young in a motorcycle accident only a few weeks after his discharge from the RAF in 1935.' As Lawrence said: "il faut souffrir pour tre content".