The Medievalism of Lawrence of Arabia
Pennsylvania, USA: The Pennsylvania State University Press, 1991. Tall octavo, turquoise cloth, spine embossed with gilt lettering, xi, 220 pp., one appendix included. Top and tail ends of spine very slightly bumped, very light spotting on edges of text block, light foxing on dust-jacket, top edge of dust-jacket's front has a small localised spot of rubbing without loss of text; otherwise a near-fine copy. First edition. M. D. Allen, an Assistant Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin Centre—Fox Valley, examines Lawrence's lifelong interest in medieval literature and the influence it had on Lawrence's thinking, ethics and writing.
Allen begins his study with a brief biography of Lawrence, focusing on the great man's early interest in crusader castles and Malory's Morte de Arthur. He goes on to explore Lawrence's reading of Tennyson's Idylls of the King and Ruskin's writing on art, and the impact it had on his ideas about war.
Throughout this unusual study of Lawrence's life, Allen discusses the chivalric, neochivalric and pseudochivalric works that inspired Lawrence and, in doing so, sheds new light on Lawrence's thought and writing. O'Brien, E445. Item #4858
Price (AUD): $120.00