Seven Pillars of Wisdom (Oxford Edition: Introductory Chapter)

Table of contents

1. How and Why I Wrote
2. The Spirit of the Revolt
3. Arabia
4. The Nomadic Phase
5. Monotheism
6. The Autonomy Movement
7. Prelude of the Sherif
8. The British Protagonists
9. Jealousies of First Success

Synopsis

Some Englishmen, of whom Kitchener was chief, believed that a rebellion of Arabs against Turks would enable England, while fighting Germany, simultaneously to defeat Turkey.

Their knowledge of the nature and power and country of the Arabic-speaking peoples made them think that the issue of such a rebellion would be happy: and indicated to them its probable character and method.

So they allowed it to begin, having obtained for it formal assurances ofhelp from the British Government. Yet nonetheless the rebellion of the Sherif of Mecca came to most as a surprise and found the Allies unready. It aroused mixed feelings and made strong friends and strong enemies, amid whose clashing jealousies its affairs began to miscarry.