劳伦斯(1888～1935年)

Lawrence, T(homas) E(dward)

别名阿拉伯的劳伦斯（Lawrence of Arabia）

英国学者、军事战略家和作家。他攻读於牛津大学，提交了一篇关於十字军城堡的论文。在一次考古探险活动中他学会了阿拉伯语。在第一次世界大战中，他构想出一个支援阿拉伯人反叛土耳其人的计画，暗中破坏土耳其和德国的联盟，并在土耳其的後方领导了一支阿拉伯游击队，使土耳其军队疲於奔命。1917年他的军队取得了第一次重大胜利，占领了亚喀巴。同年的晚些时候，他被捕，但又脱逃。1918年其军队攻抵大马士革，虽然阿拉伯人取得胜利，但是阿拉伯的分裂主义者和英法的决定是把该地区分成两个托管区，分别由英国和法国控制，不让他们组成统一的国家。劳伦斯退役了，皇家的光环也暗淡了。他先以罗斯（Ross），後来又以萧（Shaw）的化名参加了英国皇家空军（还短期参加过皇家坦克部队）。1926年完成他的自传《七根智慧之柱》。最後他被派往印度，其经历为他半虚构的小说《造币厂》提供了大量素材。卸职後三个月，死於摩托车事故，享年四十六岁。

English version：

1888～1935年

Lawrence, T(homas) E(dward)

British scholar, military strategist, and author. He studied at Oxford, submitting a thesis on crusader castles. He learned Arabic on an archaeological expedition. During World War I he conceived the plan of supporting Arab rebellion against the Turks as a way of undermining Turkey, Germany's ally, and led Arab forces in a guerrilla campaign behind Turkish lines that kept Turkish troops tied up. In 1917 his forces had their first major victory, capturing Aqaba. He was captured later that year, but escaped. His troops reached Damascus in 1918, but Arab factionalism and Anglo-French decisions to divide the area into British- and French-controlled mandates prevented the Arabs from forming a unified nation despite their victory. Lawrence retired, declining royal decorations. Under the name Ross, and later Shaw, he enlisted in the Royal Air Force (and briefly the Royal Tank Corps). He finished his autobiography, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, in 1926. He was eventually posted to India; his experiences provided grist for his semifictional The Mint. He died at 46 in a motorcycle accident three months after his discharge.