T. E. Lawrence

Biography

Thomas Edward Lawrence (1888–1935), known as Lawrence of Arabia, was a British archaeologist, military officer, and writer who became one of the most legendary figures of the twentieth century. During World War I, Lawrence served as a liaison officer with the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire, helping to lead guerrilla operations across the desert. His account of these experiences, Seven Pillars of Wisdom (1926), is both a monumental war memoir and a work of literary art. After the war, Lawrence retreated from fame, enlisting in the RAF under assumed names. He died in a motorcycle accident at age forty-six.