Seven Pillars of Wisdom. A Triumph.1922 and 1926 Texts Parallel Printing 2 Volumes in slipcase by Lawrence, T.E. (editors Jeremy & Nicole Wilson) - 2008

Fordingbridge: Castle Hill Press /J & N Wilson, 2008. Book. Fine. Hardback. First Thus. 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. A fine as new copy of the parallel text of the 1922 and 1926 texts. This one of just 50 numbered copies being Number 26, a very elusive TEL item. In quarter goatskin, bound by the Fine Book Bindery, 1-20 bound in quarter goatskin. This is a set for the scholar and collector. a most attractive and essential two volumes for researching the SP texts. The sheets for the parallel text edition had originally been erroneously imposed in 32-page sections (rather than 8-page sections), and some of these rejected sections were rediscovered in 2008, together with some surplus 8-page sections, the camera-ready typesetting, and some of the original paper used. From these elements a new edition of fifty sets of the parallel text edition was produced, using rejected or surplus sections, supplemented with newly- printed ones and new title-pages. The text is printed in two columns, with the 1922 text on the left and the 1926 text on the right, permitting the reader to make a direct comparison of the two texts easily, while the running-heads identify the chapters of the two editions.The complicated publishing history of Seven Pillars can in these volumes be followed. Upon return from the Versailles Conference, T.E. set about writing "the great work" to enshrine his vision of the personal and history of the war in the desert. The first draft, completed by November 1919, was famously lost by him on Reading Station. Two more years of writing produced the mammoth text of the 1922 edition. He had eight copies only printed at the offices of the Oxford Times and circulated these privately, recognising the need for editorial advice. This counsel helped Lawrence towards a complete revision and an entirely new mindset regarding the appropriate production standards that should be employed. This led to the definitive 1926 text, first issued in the lavish edition known as the "Cranwell" or "Subscriber's" Edition. The editorial influence of Lawrence's literary mentor, E. M. Forster, and others of his literary advisers in the production of his masterpiece had been largely hidden, principally because the 1922 text was not in the public domain. This led the 1997 editors to the decision to publish this brilliant scholarly edition of both texts in parallel, so you can judge the merits of both editions in a readily accessible manner. 559pp. Volume 1, 505pp. Volume II, 1064 in all. 2 volumes, folio (281 x 196mm), pp. I: [9 (half-title, verso blank, title, colophon, preface, contents)], [1 (blank)], [1]-559, [560 (blank)]; II: [6 (half- title, verso blank, title, colophon, contents)], [561]-1064; text printed in double columns; Fine Book Bindery, spines lettered directly in gilt, dark-brown endpapers, top edges brown, cloth slipcas. Books in Fine condition in a Fine slipcase. Second edition of the parallel 1922 and 1926 texts, no. 26 of 37 sets, from an edition of just 50. .