Abstract
The revolution of the twentieth century Here are no lessons for the world, no disclosures to shock peoples. It is filled with trivial things, partly that no one mistake for history the bones from which some day a man may make history, and partly for the pleasure it gave me to recall the fellowship of the revolt. We were fond together, because of the sweep of the open places, the taste of wide winds, the sunlight, and the hopes in which we worked. The morning freshness of the world-to-be intoxicated us. We were wrought up with ideas inexpressible and vaporous, but to be fought for. We lived many lives in those whirling campaigns, never sparing ourselves: yet, when we achieved and the new world dawned, the old men came out again and took our victory to re-make it in the likeness of the former world they knew. Youth could win, but had not learned to keep: and was pitiably weak against age. We stammered that we had worked for a new heaven and a new earth, and they thanked us kindly and made their peace. As Lawrence of Arabia's experience of the Great War was far different from what most young British officers lived through in the trenches of Flanders and France, so his assessment of the peace must have seemed strange to many of his readers.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Peace treaties and international law in European history |
Subtitle of host publication | From the late middle ages to World War One |
Editors | Randall Lesaffer |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 399-411 |
Number of pages | 13 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780511494239 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780521827249 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2004 |