Thomas Edward lawrence Special Features - World of Biography,Media Matrix,India

Special Features

Tribute by Hollywood

The 'uncrowned king of the desert' was paid due tribute by Hollywood when a film was released titled Lawrence of Arabia in 1962. The tale of Lawrence's heart-capturing adventures in the backdrop of vast expands of Middle-East desert won laurels at the Academy Awards the same year, with 10 nominations and 7 awards. The awards were given for Best Director, Best Picture, Best Music Score, Best Sound, Best Color Cinematography, Best Color Art Direction/Set Decoration and Best Film Editing.

The film was directed by David Lean and Thomas Lawrence was enlivened on screen by the blue-eyed Irish Shakespearean actor Peter O'Toole. The characterization of the enigmatic, rebellious, desert-loving, messianic, Oxford-bred British officer, who aided the Arabian Bedouins against the Turks during World War I was applauded all over the world for its complex life and exploits in the desert.

The Bike He Rode

Lawrence rode a custom-made motorcycle, a 'George VII' Brough Superior, Model SS100, with a 998cc overhead valve engine. Lawrence nicknamed it Boanerges or 'Son of Thunder'. Unfortunately, the thunder struck him while riding his bike. The freakish, disastrous motorcycle crash to the save bicyclists on a hill slope, proved to be fatal. The explorer of Arab Deserts was killed in a road accident.

A Man of Letters

Lawrence wanted to be remembered as a man of letters rather than a war hero. His enduring ambition was to be a writer. He once confessed his hope that, "in the distant future, if the distant future deigns to consider my insignificance, I shall be appraised rather as a man of letters than a man of action."

The literary inclination of the great warrior is reflected in his two autobiographical books : Seven Pillars of Wisdom and The Mint. The books present a keen observer of people, places, and events.

Lawrence's letters are equally remarkable. It includes at least 6,000 letters written between 1906 and 1935. He had friendships with fellow-servicemen in the ranks as well as with leading figures in the field of literature, art, and politics. Due to the circumstances of his life letters were almost the only means to maintain and nourish friendship.