Number of lines of text
on the page

First pages of chapters, which because of their chapter number heading have less than a full page of text, contain a varying number of lines of type, the least being 27 and the greatest 34.

The number of lines on the last page of each chapter, 52 of which carry tail-piece illustrations, varies considerably, from a full page of text with 37 lines to a mere 7, and there is no set pattern. In addition there is one chapter end page with 22 lines of text plus 4 lines in a smaller type size [p 176], and one with 16 lines plus 2 in smaller type [p 644] - both followed by an illustration, and a further five where Lawrence has followed the somewhat extraordinary typographical practice of finishing off the page with a number of lines which are gradually reduced in length and centred. In one such case, on p [435], the final, shortest line reads 'the supreme moment of the war.', and this typographical device serves to emphasise a highlight in the text, and provides Book VI with a resounding finish.

For pages other than the first and last of a chapter, the standard number of lines of text is 37. There are a few variations: eight paired pages have 36 lines; four paired pages have 38 lines; there are three pages, one of 38 and two of 36 lines, opposite chapter ending pages bearing an illustration, and one 36 line page opposite a chapter first page, so that the disparity is not obvious; there are two individual pages with 36 lines opposite 37 line pages; p 248 has 32 lines followed by 5 lines in a smaller type; p 257 has 32 lines and a 6 line footnote in smaller type, printed in red, but with a black asterisk referring the reader to a corresponding asterisk in the text, which records Lawrence's evaluation of Churchill's 1921 settlement of the Middle East; on one double page opening, pp [284]-[285], the illustration - A forced landing - leaps across both pages in between lines of text; and on p [301] there are 9 lines plus the only other in-text illustration besides A forced landing to appear on a mid-chapter page - the Kennington cartoon Wind.

An analysis of the number of lines of text on pages is given in an appendix, [Number of lines of text on the page].

Next section - Page numbering

The book itself - full listing