XIX explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Honor and Deception

  Feisal uses humor and public chaffing to handle Mirzuk's shameful story, preserving honor.

• Suffering and Endurance

  Feisal's patience and daily routine sustain morale amid crisis and defection.

Characters to notice

• T.E. Lawrence

  Observer and chronicler of Feisal's methods and camp life.

• Emir Feisal

  Demonstrates patient command, humor, and routine leadership during morale crisis.

• Sherif Sharraf

  Assists Feisal in settling petitions.

• Sherif Zeid

  Mentioned in Mirzuk's story of the rout.

• Sherif Ali ibn el Hussein

  His father el Hussein lost his coffeepots in the rout.

• Saleh ibn Shefia

  Mentioned as a fat man who made comic grievance of Feisal's quick meals.

Key passages

• “Feisal, fighting to make up their lost spirits, did it most surely by lending of his own to everyone within reach.”

  Feisal restored morale by sharing his own spirit with all who came to him.

  Lawrence observes Feisal's method of leadership.

• “He listened always, and, if he did not settle the case himself, called Sharraf or Faiz to arrange it for him.”

  Feisal always heard petitioners out, delegating unresolved cases to Sharraf or Faiz.

  Illustrates Feisal's patience and delegation.

• “Feisal just laughed at him in public and sent him aside to wait while he saw the sheikhs of the Harb and the Ageyl whose carelessness had been mainly responsible for the disaster.”

  Feisal publicly laughed off Mirzuk's report, then privately addressed the responsible sheikhs.

  Feisal's handling of the rout and blame.

• “He told them gently that the Turks were coming on, and that it was their duty to hold them up and give God the credit of their victory; adding that this would become impossible if they went to sleep.”

  Feisal urged the sheikhs to hold off the Turks and trust God for victory, warning against sleep.

  Feisal's motivational speech to the Rifaa sheikhs.