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Lawrence de arabia
Es un libro sobre la vida de Thomas Edward Lawrence. Escritor y militar británico. Hijo ilegítimo de un aristócrata, creció bajo la influencia de una madre dominante. Estudió lenguas clásicas y arqueología en Oxford y viajó por Francia, donde las fortalezas medievales despertaron su interés por las Cruzadas y las culturas del Próximo Oriente; con este destino partió en 1910 en una expedición arqueológica con el equipo del Museo Británico
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
About the author
Robert Payne
338 books36 followersPierre Stephen Robert Payne was born December 4, 1911, in Saltash, County of Cornwall, England, the son of Stephen Payne, a naval architect, and Mireille Louise Antonia (Dorey) Payne, a native of France. Payne was the eldest of three brothers. His middle brother was Alan (Marcel Alan), and his youngest brother was Tony, who died at the age of seven.
Payne went to St. Paul's School, London. He attended the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, South Africa, 1929-30; the University of Capetown, 1928-1930; Liverpool University, 1933-35; the University of Munich, summer, 1937, and the Sorbonne, in Paris, 1938.
Payne first followed his father into shipbuilding, working as a shipwright's apprentice at Cammell, Laird's Shipbuilding Company, Birkendhead, 1931-33. He also worked for the Inland Revenue as an Assistant Inspector of Taxes in Guilford in 1936. In 1937-38 he traveled in Europe and, while in Munich, met Adolf Hitler through Rudolf Hess, an incident which Payne vividly describes in his book Eyewitness. In 1938 Payne covered the Civil War in Spain for the London News Chronicle, an experience that resulted in two books, A Young Man Looks at Europe and The Song of the Peasant.
From 1939 to 1941 Payne worked as a shipwright at the Singapore Naval Base and in 1941 he became an armament officer and chief camouflage officer for British Army Intelligence there. In December, 1941, he was sent to Chungking, China, to serve as Cultural Attaché at the British Embassy.
In January, 1942, he covered the battle of Changsha for the London Times, and from 1942 to 1943 he taught English literature at Fuhtan University, near Chungking. Then, persuaded by Joseph Needham, he went to Kunming and taught poetry and naval architecture at Lienta University from 1943 to 1946. The universities of Peking, Tsinghua, and Nankai had converged in Kunming to form the University at Lienta. It was there that Payne, together with Chinese scholars and poets, compiled and co-translated The White Pony.
In China Payne met General George C. Marshall, Chiang Kai-shek, and Mao Tse-tung, who was elusive and living in the caves of Yenan, all of whom later became subjects for his biographies. From his time in China also came the autobiographical volumes Forever China and China Awake, and the historical novels Love and Peace and The Lovers.
From China, Payne briefly visited India in the summer, 1946, which resulted in a love for Indian art. Throughout his life, Payne retained a love for all forms of oriental art.
He came to the United States in the winter of 1946 and lived in Los Angeles, California, until he became Professor of English and Author-in-Residence at Alabama College, Montevallo, 1949-54. He was the founding editor of Montevallo Review, whose contributors included poets Charles Olson and Muriel Rukeyser. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1953.
In Spring, 1949, Payne visited Persia with the Asia Institute Expedition. He received an M.A. degree from the Asia Institute in 1951.
In 1954 Payne moved to New York City, where he lived the rest of his life, interrupted once or twice a year by travel to the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe, mostly to gather material for his books, but also to visit his mother and father in England. His very close literary relationship with his father is documented in the hundreds of highly personal and informative letters which they exchanged.
In 1942, Payne married Rose Hsiung, daughter of Hsiung Hse-ling, a former prime minister of China. They divorced in 1952. In 1981, he married Sheila Lalwani, originally from India.
Over a period of forty-seven years Payne had more than 110 books published. He wrote his first novella, Adventures of Sylvia, Queen of Denmark and China, when he was seven years old. Payne's first publication was a translation of Iiuri Olesha's Envy, published by Virginia and Leonard Woolf's Hogarth Press in 1936. A year later, T.S. Eliot published his novel The War in the Marshes under
Payne went to St. Paul's School, London. He attended the Diocesan College, Rondebosch, South Africa, 1929-30; the University of Capetown, 1928-1930; Liverpool University, 1933-35; the University of Munich, summer, 1937, and the Sorbonne, in Paris, 1938.
Payne first followed his father into shipbuilding, working as a shipwright's apprentice at Cammell, Laird's Shipbuilding Company, Birkendhead, 1931-33. He also worked for the Inland Revenue as an Assistant Inspector of Taxes in Guilford in 1936. In 1937-38 he traveled in Europe and, while in Munich, met Adolf Hitler through Rudolf Hess, an incident which Payne vividly describes in his book Eyewitness. In 1938 Payne covered the Civil War in Spain for the London News Chronicle, an experience that resulted in two books, A Young Man Looks at Europe and The Song of the Peasant.
From 1939 to 1941 Payne worked as a shipwright at the Singapore Naval Base and in 1941 he became an armament officer and chief camouflage officer for British Army Intelligence there. In December, 1941, he was sent to Chungking, China, to serve as Cultural Attaché at the British Embassy.
In January, 1942, he covered the battle of Changsha for the London Times, and from 1942 to 1943 he taught English literature at Fuhtan University, near Chungking. Then, persuaded by Joseph Needham, he went to Kunming and taught poetry and naval architecture at Lienta University from 1943 to 1946. The universities of Peking, Tsinghua, and Nankai had converged in Kunming to form the University at Lienta. It was there that Payne, together with Chinese scholars and poets, compiled and co-translated The White Pony.
In China Payne met General George C. Marshall, Chiang Kai-shek, and Mao Tse-tung, who was elusive and living in the caves of Yenan, all of whom later became subjects for his biographies. From his time in China also came the autobiographical volumes Forever China and China Awake, and the historical novels Love and Peace and The Lovers.
From China, Payne briefly visited India in the summer, 1946, which resulted in a love for Indian art. Throughout his life, Payne retained a love for all forms of oriental art.
He came to the United States in the winter of 1946 and lived in Los Angeles, California, until he became Professor of English and Author-in-Residence at Alabama College, Montevallo, 1949-54. He was the founding editor of Montevallo Review, whose contributors included poets Charles Olson and Muriel Rukeyser. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1953.
In Spring, 1949, Payne visited Persia with the Asia Institute Expedition. He received an M.A. degree from the Asia Institute in 1951.
In 1954 Payne moved to New York City, where he lived the rest of his life, interrupted once or twice a year by travel to the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe, mostly to gather material for his books, but also to visit his mother and father in England. His very close literary relationship with his father is documented in the hundreds of highly personal and informative letters which they exchanged.
In 1942, Payne married Rose Hsiung, daughter of Hsiung Hse-ling, a former prime minister of China. They divorced in 1952. In 1981, he married Sheila Lalwani, originally from India.
Over a period of forty-seven years Payne had more than 110 books published. He wrote his first novella, Adventures of Sylvia, Queen of Denmark and China, when he was seven years old. Payne's first publication was a translation of Iiuri Olesha's Envy, published by Virginia and Leonard Woolf's Hogarth Press in 1936. A year later, T.S. Eliot published his novel The War in the Marshes under
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February 7, 2022
روایت خلاصه ای از تلاش ها و نبرد های لارنس عرب،فردی که به میان اعراب رفت و با متحد ساختن آنان در جنگ بر علیه ترک ها نقشی بزرگ داشت،فیلم لارنس عرب به زیبایی تلاش ها و زندگی او را نشان می دهد
ریویوی فیلم:
Lawrence of Arabia
David lean
1962
ماجرایی حقیقی و حماسی,Lawrence of Arabia,در نگاه من نماد قهرمان گرایی مردم خاورمیانه در عصر جدید است..مردمی که جملگی در تفرقه متحد اند,گرد قهرمانی که به او ایمان دارند جمع می شوند,تا به مصاف جنگی روند که شاید خود در ان تنها تکه بسیار کوچک و بی اهمیتی باشند..."لارنس عربستان"داستان حرکت پروانه ای است که یک قهرمان در جامعه ای مرده,منفعت طلب و متعصب شروع می کند,تا در نهایت مانند یک سیلاب سهمگین دریای جنگ را متلاطم کند..البته بازگشت همیشگی مردم خاورمیانه به منفعت طلبی فردی,تعصب و طمع را درمانی نیست.. لاورنس در اینجا اما تنها یک قهرمان نیست,خود نماد تغییری است که می خواهد در جهان ببیند,و بار ها بهای این تغییر را میپردازد و تا پایان به نبردش ادامه می دهد.. “All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
پایان لارنس اما سقوط یک قهرمان در هیاهوی زندگی عادی ست..آهنگ رولت روسی جک ساورتی را به یاد می آورد که صدای سکوت صلح برای مردان میدان نبرد چه بسیار ترسناک است،لارنس که نقش یک قهرمان و رهبر را داشت پس از جنگ و با بازگشت به انگلستان هرگز نتوانست دیگر به زندگی برگردد،همدم او تنها یاس و رنج و لحظه هایی کوتاه از زندگی و انتظار مرگ بود.
ریویوی فیلم:
Lawrence of Arabia
David lean
1962
ماجرایی حقیقی و حماسی,Lawrence of Arabia,در نگاه من نماد قهرمان گرایی مردم خاورمیانه در عصر جدید است..مردمی که جملگی در تفرقه متحد اند,گرد قهرمانی که به او ایمان دارند جمع می شوند,تا به مصاف جنگی روند که شاید خود در ان تنها تکه بسیار کوچک و بی اهمیتی باشند..."لارنس عربستان"داستان حرکت پروانه ای است که یک قهرمان در جامعه ای مرده,منفعت طلب و متعصب شروع می کند,تا در نهایت مانند یک سیلاب سهمگین دریای جنگ را متلاطم کند..البته بازگشت همیشگی مردم خاورمیانه به منفعت طلبی فردی,تعصب و طمع را درمانی نیست.. لاورنس در اینجا اما تنها یک قهرمان نیست,خود نماد تغییری است که می خواهد در جهان ببیند,و بار ها بهای این تغییر را میپردازد و تا پایان به نبردش ادامه می دهد.. “All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.”
پایان لارنس اما سقوط یک قهرمان در هیاهوی زندگی عادی ست..آهنگ رولت روسی جک ساورتی را به یاد می آورد که صدای سکوت صلح برای مردان میدان نبرد چه بسیار ترسناک است،لارنس که نقش یک قهرمان و رهبر را داشت پس از جنگ و با بازگشت به انگلستان هرگز نتوانست دیگر به زندگی برگردد،همدم او تنها یاس و رنج و لحظه هایی کوتاه از زندگی و انتظار مرگ بود.
March 24, 2026
Short, Well-Researched Biography of the Famous and Enigmatic WWI Hero
Biographer and historian Robert Payne's Lawrence of Arabia: A Triumph was published in 1962 and may or may not be connected to the release of the classic Hollywood movie of 1963. But this 1963 Pyramid Books paperback edition has the phrase, "SEE THE BRILLIANT NEW FILM EPIC "LAWRENCE OF ARABIA" on the cover over an ink drawing of Lawrence in his iconic Arabic royal garb except rendered as a Union Jack instead of traditional white. I say all that because there are many biographies of Thomas Edward Lawrence out there. He was the United Kingdom's last truly legendary imperial hero. And most of these were published in the post-war era--despite Lawrence of Arabia being a WWI hero--his colorful, adventurous life overshadowing even the heroes of the Second World War.
Payne's book is a short, easy read, clocking in at 190 pages. He borrows liberally from Lawrence's own Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the mammoth, literary autobiography that few have read, and a few other sources. Payne's book is a popular history of Lawrence, and a bit hagiographical. But Payne is an Englishman and Lawrence of Arabia is a UK national treasure, so that is to be expected. Payne touches lightly on Lawrence's complicated personal life (long suspected of homosexuality, asexuality, misogyny, or some mixture of the three), generously on his spiritual life (an unconventional Christian), broadly but not deeply in his mental health (mad, suicidal, depressive), speculates on the enigma of his leadership style (charismatic, nihilistic, moralistic), and heavily on his literary life.
Payne ultimately views Lawrence as a literary figure much like himself, with a strong instinct for history and destiny. He spends a good deal of the book commenting on Lawrence's publishing output, even comparing the writing styles he adopted for different audiences. Payne is clearly a huge fan of Seven Pillars of Wisdom and I suspect he is trying to introduce the modern reader (circa 1963) to its charms (Alas, I tried to get through Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom myself a few years ago and failed miserably. Truth be told, I picked up Payne's book as a substitute. I will be reading Anthony Nutting's popular biography of Lawrence shortly and will compare it to Payne's).
This is a great book and the 21st century reader would do well to find a copy. So much of the seed of our current Middle Eastern conflicts was sown during the period of Lawrence's greatest triumph. The destruction of the Ottoman Empire and the resurgence of Arab nationalism were no small historical matters. Yet Lawrence, in his brilliant, visionary, and often bumbling pursuit of destiny, changed history. And his unconventional manner of living foreshadowed every counter-cultural trend that took fire in the 20th century.
So if you are going to read a book about Lawrence of Arabia, and can get your hands on this one, you will do well to read it. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Biographer and historian Robert Payne's Lawrence of Arabia: A Triumph was published in 1962 and may or may not be connected to the release of the classic Hollywood movie of 1963. But this 1963 Pyramid Books paperback edition has the phrase, "SEE THE BRILLIANT NEW FILM EPIC "LAWRENCE OF ARABIA" on the cover over an ink drawing of Lawrence in his iconic Arabic royal garb except rendered as a Union Jack instead of traditional white. I say all that because there are many biographies of Thomas Edward Lawrence out there. He was the United Kingdom's last truly legendary imperial hero. And most of these were published in the post-war era--despite Lawrence of Arabia being a WWI hero--his colorful, adventurous life overshadowing even the heroes of the Second World War.
Payne's book is a short, easy read, clocking in at 190 pages. He borrows liberally from Lawrence's own Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the mammoth, literary autobiography that few have read, and a few other sources. Payne's book is a popular history of Lawrence, and a bit hagiographical. But Payne is an Englishman and Lawrence of Arabia is a UK national treasure, so that is to be expected. Payne touches lightly on Lawrence's complicated personal life (long suspected of homosexuality, asexuality, misogyny, or some mixture of the three), generously on his spiritual life (an unconventional Christian), broadly but not deeply in his mental health (mad, suicidal, depressive), speculates on the enigma of his leadership style (charismatic, nihilistic, moralistic), and heavily on his literary life.
Payne ultimately views Lawrence as a literary figure much like himself, with a strong instinct for history and destiny. He spends a good deal of the book commenting on Lawrence's publishing output, even comparing the writing styles he adopted for different audiences. Payne is clearly a huge fan of Seven Pillars of Wisdom and I suspect he is trying to introduce the modern reader (circa 1963) to its charms (Alas, I tried to get through Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom myself a few years ago and failed miserably. Truth be told, I picked up Payne's book as a substitute. I will be reading Anthony Nutting's popular biography of Lawrence shortly and will compare it to Payne's).
This is a great book and the 21st century reader would do well to find a copy. So much of the seed of our current Middle Eastern conflicts was sown during the period of Lawrence's greatest triumph. The destruction of the Ottoman Empire and the resurgence of Arab nationalism were no small historical matters. Yet Lawrence, in his brilliant, visionary, and often bumbling pursuit of destiny, changed history. And his unconventional manner of living foreshadowed every counter-cultural trend that took fire in the 20th century.
So if you are going to read a book about Lawrence of Arabia, and can get your hands on this one, you will do well to read it. It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
October 19, 2016
Finally finished this relatively short book. Payne's pack a lot of information about Lawrence in 190 pages.
This is the first biography that I've read about T.E. Lawrence so I have nothing to compare it to. I loved this book. Mostly because Lawrence is so fascinating and Payne tries to delve into his psyche and help us understand why he made the decisions he did and why he was so magnetic to the world.
While the bulk of the book is about his travails in Arabia, Payne does give us a few chapters on his childhood, young adulthood, and the final years after Arabia which gives us so much more background and context to work with than the movie epic does.
I would recommend this book only to those who are interested in Lawrence and who he was on the inside. Otherwise, it would be kind of a tedious book to read. Payne clearly has a love for Lawrence and almost everything he did is praised for it's genius.
This is the first biography that I've read about T.E. Lawrence so I have nothing to compare it to. I loved this book. Mostly because Lawrence is so fascinating and Payne tries to delve into his psyche and help us understand why he made the decisions he did and why he was so magnetic to the world.
While the bulk of the book is about his travails in Arabia, Payne does give us a few chapters on his childhood, young adulthood, and the final years after Arabia which gives us so much more background and context to work with than the movie epic does.
I would recommend this book only to those who are interested in Lawrence and who he was on the inside. Otherwise, it would be kind of a tedious book to read. Payne clearly has a love for Lawrence and almost everything he did is praised for it's genius.
April 25, 2017
É evidente a admiração profunda que o autor sente por Lawrence , no entanto conseguiu construir uma narrativa objetiva e expor não só, a sua nobreza de carácter e grandeza , mas também as suas contradições e fraquezas. A escrita é factual por vezes, poética e, por vezes salpicada com um humor inesperado. O autor faz referência a diversos registos e testemunhos de pessoas que conviveram com Lawrence. Por outro lado, a inclusão de alguns excertos de "Os setes Pilares da Sabedoria" , o livro que Lawrence escreveu sobre a rebelião árabe, em Oxford, e que tanto o atormentou, enriquecem de forma notável esta narrativa.
Esta obra revela as várias etapas da vida de Lawrence: a sua infância e juventude privilegiadas, o seu amor pelos livros e museus, as suas primeiras viagens solitárias de bicicleta até ao sul de França , os dias dedicados às escavações e antropologia , os anos vividos com os árabes, a atração que sentia pelas paisagens do deserto (ele era um "amante dos espaços vazios , onde a aparição de um simples arbusto florido pode assumir o aspecto de uma verdadeira revelação "), o regresso a Londres e os anos de fome, o ingresso na RAF e por fim, o desespero físico e emocional que tanto o atormentaram, consequência da percepção de uma missão cumprida mas mal resolvida , das feridas de guerra e do sol branco do deserto.
" Os livros eram para ele uma verdadeira delícia. Gostava das encadernações enfeitadas , do papel de boa qualidade e de uma impressão bem feita. Havia no seu sentimento por um livro bom algo que se podia qualificar de sensual , sem falar no alheamento do mundo tão próprio dos amantes da boa literatura. Em plena campanha na Arábia, às vezes desaparecia: tinha-se refugiado em algum lugar tranquilo para ler..."
"A essência do deserto era o indivíduo solitário que o cruzava, o filho dos caminhos vivendo no seu próprio mundo, como num túmulo."
(excerto de "Os sete pilares da sabedoria")
Esta obra revela as várias etapas da vida de Lawrence: a sua infância e juventude privilegiadas, o seu amor pelos livros e museus, as suas primeiras viagens solitárias de bicicleta até ao sul de França , os dias dedicados às escavações e antropologia , os anos vividos com os árabes, a atração que sentia pelas paisagens do deserto (ele era um "amante dos espaços vazios , onde a aparição de um simples arbusto florido pode assumir o aspecto de uma verdadeira revelação "), o regresso a Londres e os anos de fome, o ingresso na RAF e por fim, o desespero físico e emocional que tanto o atormentaram, consequência da percepção de uma missão cumprida mas mal resolvida , das feridas de guerra e do sol branco do deserto.
" Os livros eram para ele uma verdadeira delícia. Gostava das encadernações enfeitadas , do papel de boa qualidade e de uma impressão bem feita. Havia no seu sentimento por um livro bom algo que se podia qualificar de sensual , sem falar no alheamento do mundo tão próprio dos amantes da boa literatura. Em plena campanha na Arábia, às vezes desaparecia: tinha-se refugiado em algum lugar tranquilo para ler..."
"A essência do deserto era o indivíduo solitário que o cruzava, o filho dos caminhos vivendo no seu próprio mundo, como num túmulo."
(excerto de "Os sete pilares da sabedoria")
August 19, 2009
Wow, I had no idea there were so many different Lawrence of Arabia books. This was first published in 1962. Very lucidly written and engaging. I've never been into military history, and I actually found Payne's accounts of Lawrence's military insights to be very interesting. Written like a novel but with a strong historical foundation. Now I have to see the movie!
December 4, 2013
What a delightful read backed by phenomenal research on this died-too-young, British oddball and accidental Arabia nation builder.
February 2, 2014
It's a nice book, sometimes I had to back the pages 'cause I couldn't remember the names of everyone, but I liked the book, the beginning when Lawrence is traveling across France is the coolest part.
Read
July 21, 2010Blowing up civilian trains in the desert? Not much of a hero in my opinion.
Read
November 7, 2010Worth the 50 cent asking price one paid in 1962.
May 15, 2022
Um homem pequeno, magro , aparentemente com ar frágil e sem carisma (era um grande leitor e um apaixonado e estudioso das Cruzadas) transforma-se no gigantesco Lawrence da Arábia : o 'espião' Inglês que através de várias circunstâncias fizeram que se junta-se a tribos Árabes e as lidera-se (!) no combate às tropas Turcas com o intuito de expulsa-los do medio Oriente e criar um grande estado árabe para além da península Arábica. Foi por isso um elemento crucial na Revolta Árabe.
O objetivo da criação de um estado Árabe que foi prometido a T.E.Lawrence pelos Ingleses - e obviamente através deste aos Árabes - foi traído indecentemente após a célebre vitória da conquista de Damasco : descobriu que lhe tinham omitido um acordo secreto entre Ingleses e Franceses firmado anos antes em que dividiriam o 'espólio' Turco.
Lawrence da Arábia conseguiu expulsar os Turcos com a conquista final de Damasco, também auxiliado por tropas inglesas : tinha passado muito tempo em ações de sabotagem conduzidas por si, nomeadamente minando caminhos de ferro usados pelas tropas Turcas e participou direta e indiretamente em grande chacinas nessas operações. Chegou a reconhecer que tinha um prazer profundo e secreto nessas atrocidades …
Numa operação em que foi 'mascarado' a uma cidade dominada pelos Turcos para identificar o local e os efetivos do inimigo, foi casualmente aprisionado na rua para ser levado a um chefe Turco sodomita e acabou por ser violentamente violado pelos guardas prisionais que curiosamente nem chegaram a saber quem era a sua vítima. Ficou seriamente traumatizado com este episódio . É de notar que Lawrence apesar de não ser homossexual não revelava nenhum interesse pelo sexo oposto.
Esta grande lenda do sec. XX incrivelmente acabou, por decisão pessoal, de integrar-se em cargos menores nas forças armadas na Grâ-Bretanha, até à sua morte de acidente de mota.
Ps acabei por ver novamente o grande filme de David Lean, e com vontade de voltar a pegar em Os Sete Pilares da Sabedoria em que foi baseada esta biografia : há anos comecei a ler e achei maçudo e desisti ao fim de poucas páginas . Fiquei igualmente com vontade de ler mais biografias do autor , Robert Payne.
O objetivo da criação de um estado Árabe que foi prometido a T.E.Lawrence pelos Ingleses - e obviamente através deste aos Árabes - foi traído indecentemente após a célebre vitória da conquista de Damasco : descobriu que lhe tinham omitido um acordo secreto entre Ingleses e Franceses firmado anos antes em que dividiriam o 'espólio' Turco.
Lawrence da Arábia conseguiu expulsar os Turcos com a conquista final de Damasco, também auxiliado por tropas inglesas : tinha passado muito tempo em ações de sabotagem conduzidas por si, nomeadamente minando caminhos de ferro usados pelas tropas Turcas e participou direta e indiretamente em grande chacinas nessas operações. Chegou a reconhecer que tinha um prazer profundo e secreto nessas atrocidades …
Numa operação em que foi 'mascarado' a uma cidade dominada pelos Turcos para identificar o local e os efetivos do inimigo, foi casualmente aprisionado na rua para ser levado a um chefe Turco sodomita e acabou por ser violentamente violado pelos guardas prisionais que curiosamente nem chegaram a saber quem era a sua vítima. Ficou seriamente traumatizado com este episódio . É de notar que Lawrence apesar de não ser homossexual não revelava nenhum interesse pelo sexo oposto.
Esta grande lenda do sec. XX incrivelmente acabou, por decisão pessoal, de integrar-se em cargos menores nas forças armadas na Grâ-Bretanha, até à sua morte de acidente de mota.
Ps acabei por ver novamente o grande filme de David Lean, e com vontade de voltar a pegar em Os Sete Pilares da Sabedoria em que foi baseada esta biografia : há anos comecei a ler e achei maçudo e desisti ao fim de poucas páginas . Fiquei igualmente com vontade de ler mais biografias do autor , Robert Payne.
May 26, 2021
Inesperado foi descobrir tantos Lawrences em uma única pessoa: o jovem privilegiado e amante dos livros bem encadernados, dos museus e dos castelos medievais; o viajante solitário que percorreu de bicicleta as estradas do sul da França e, pela primeira vez, se admirou pelo Mediterrâneo e pelo que havia do outro lado; o arqueólogo dedicado e, talvez, o mais fantástico militar do século XX, que entregou seus melhores anos à causa árabe e, pela força de sua própria vontade, criou os reinos da Mesopotâmia e da Transjordânia; o homem constantemente atraído pelos espaços vazios do deserto; o quase mendicante esfaimado percorrendo as ruas de Londres e vivendo dos favores de amigos; o recruta mais baixo e anônimo da Força Aérea inglesa; o homem desesperado física e emocionalmente, destruído pelo fardo de uma missão mal resolvida e torturado pelas feridas da guerra e do sol do deserto; o exibicionista quase farsante e o masoquista praticamente misógino; o homem que precisava de um propósito como quem precisa de ar. É difícil saber de qual deles gostar mais ou qual detestar.
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Quanto ao livro em si, a profunda admiração do autor pelo personagem é mais que evidente. Mesmo assim, ele construiu uma narrativa objetiva que expôs não apenas a nobreza de caráter e a grandeza de Lawrence, mas, também e principalmente, suas fraquezas e contradições. Muitas vezes poética, sem deixar de lado algumas doses de humor inesperado, a obra se utiliza de diversos registos e testemunhos de pessoas que conheceram e conviveram com Lawrence, ao mesmo tempo em que é engrandecida pela inserção de trechos de "Os setes Pilares da Sabedoria", o livro que Lawrence escreveu sobre a rebelião árabe e que tanto infernizou sua vida.
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Quanto ao livro em si, a profunda admiração do autor pelo personagem é mais que evidente. Mesmo assim, ele construiu uma narrativa objetiva que expôs não apenas a nobreza de caráter e a grandeza de Lawrence, mas, também e principalmente, suas fraquezas e contradições. Muitas vezes poética, sem deixar de lado algumas doses de humor inesperado, a obra se utiliza de diversos registos e testemunhos de pessoas que conheceram e conviveram com Lawrence, ao mesmo tempo em que é engrandecida pela inserção de trechos de "Os setes Pilares da Sabedoria", o livro que Lawrence escreveu sobre a rebelião árabe e que tanto infernizou sua vida.
August 1, 2019
I picked up this book at a used book sale. It was an okay biography, but I didn't have much interest in "Lawrence of Arabia" to begin with. Perhaps a better book for someone with a little more background. I did like that it lent some realistic elements to a heroic figure.
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