The Mint (book)
Encyclopedia
The Mint is a book written by T. E. Lawrence
, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.
It concerns the period following the First World War when Lawrence decided to disappear from public view. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force
under an assumed name and became Aircraftman
Ross. The book is a closely observed autobiographical account of his experiences in the RAF. The book covers his initial training at RAF Uxbridge
in 1922 and a part of his service at RAF Cranwell
, 1925–26.
Lawrence stated that the book should not be published until after his death. When The Mint was finally published in 1955 there were two editions, the expurgated edition and a limited edition
containing the full uncensored text. The delay in publication and sensitivity surrounding the full text concerned its barrack-room language (i.e., lots of "four-letter words") and frank references to bodily functions, which some people might still find offensive. However, social mores
have changed since the 1950s with the result that the original text is now widely available.
Irving Howe
described the work in The Hudson Review
as a "severely chiselled picture of barrack life: Joycean in style, sometimes brilliant in evocation, structured as a series of set-pieces, showing a decided advance in control over The Seven Pillars of Wisdom but too markedly an exercise, a self-conscious effort to write."
T. E. Lawrence
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence, CB, DSO , known professionally as T. E. Lawrence, was a British Army officer renowned especially for his liaison role during the Arab Revolt against Ottoman Turkish rule of 1916–18...
, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.
It concerns the period following the First World War when Lawrence decided to disappear from public view. He enlisted in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
under an assumed name and became Aircraftman
Aircraftman
Aircraftman , or Aircraftwoman , is the lowest rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of several other Commonwealth countries....
Ross. The book is a closely observed autobiographical account of his experiences in the RAF. The book covers his initial training at RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered originally belonging to the Hillingdon House estate, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF...
in 1922 and a part of his service at RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell
RAF Cranwell is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire close to the village of Cranwell, near Sleaford. It is currently commanded by Group Captain Dave Waddington...
, 1925–26.
Lawrence stated that the book should not be published until after his death. When The Mint was finally published in 1955 there were two editions, the expurgated edition and a limited edition
Limited edition books
A limited edition book is a description of a book which is released in a limited print run quantity, usually much smaller than publishing industry standards, and connotes a level of scarcity or exclusivity...
containing the full uncensored text. The delay in publication and sensitivity surrounding the full text concerned its barrack-room language (i.e., lots of "four-letter words") and frank references to bodily functions, which some people might still find offensive. However, social mores
Mores
Mores, in sociology, are any given society's particular norms, virtues, or values. The word mores is a plurale tantum term borrowed from Latin, which has been used in the English language since the 1890s....
have changed since the 1950s with the result that the original text is now widely available.
Irving Howe
Irving Howe
Irving Howe was an American literary and social critic and a prominent figure of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Life and career:...
described the work in The Hudson Review
The Hudson Review
The Hudson Review is a quarterly journal of literature and the arts. It was founded in 1947 in New York by William Ayers Arrowsmith, Joseph Deericks Bennett, and George Frederick Morgan. The first issue was introduced in the spring of 1948...
as a "severely chiselled picture of barrack life: Joycean in style, sometimes brilliant in evocation, structured as a series of set-pieces, showing a decided advance in control over The Seven Pillars of Wisdom but too markedly an exercise, a self-conscious effort to write."