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BorisTheMansplainer t1_iufgspk wrote

Reply to comment by ButterflyAttack in Revealed: TE Lawrence felt ‘bitter shame’ over UK’s false promises of Arab self rule by Aboveground_Plush

Right. How can you find a book with a scene where the author rearranges bodies in the moonlight tedious? The entire thing was engrossing and often quite haunting.

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Tiako t1_iuflh8g wrote

I could imagine someone expecting a simple war memoir would find it a tough read, but if you want a somewhat fictionalized account of a very strange Englishman who was really Working Through Stuff then it is a strong recommendation.

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Ripheus-33 t1_iughd59 wrote

Sounds fascinating but why did you capitalize Working Through Stuff, is that a reference to something in the book?

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Teantis t1_iugjiom wrote

He had PTSD really bad people think and may or may not have been raped by Turkish soldiers along with all the other bad shit he went through. He was known for being pretty weird after wwi also.

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Ripheus-33 t1_iugvivc wrote

Oh my gosh, that’s so sad

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ELI-PGY5 t1_iuh65hw wrote

I’m 80% sure the Turkish soldier thing is Lawrence’s homoerotic slash fiction, so don’t feel too bad for him. Controversial area, there is some decent scholarship on this issue.

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hellraisinhardass t1_iugp9tn wrote

I too found parts of it very tedious. Some of his writing, particularly descriptions of the sights, sounds and even smells of the desert and war are some of the best ever written. But his mixes in entire chapters of political discussions and observations about the interactions between different tribes and colonial powers that are almost impossible for a causal reader to choke down.

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