Lawrence of Arabia

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars. — Book of Proverbs

Brilliant documentary on T E Lawrence (1888-1935) by BBC Radio 4.

Lawrence pioneered modern guerrilla warfare when he drove the Turks out of the Middle East.

Unusual for a Westerner, Lawrence understood the Arab mind.

He was ultimately betrayed, as were the Arabs who thought they were fighting for independence.

The Middle East was carved up between the British and the French. Artificial borders were created

Lawrence drew up his own map.

We suffer the consequences today. Kurdistan would have been a state, as would Palestine. There would have been no Israel.

Lawrence died in a motorcycle accident when he swerved to avoid two boys in the road.

• Lawrence of Arabia: The Man and the Myth
• Strategist of the Desert Dies in Military Hospital
• Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Yet another example of the unavailable crass stupidity of the BBC. They produce an excellent documentary, which will only be held on-line for seven days!