Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorized Biography of T.E. Lawrence - Hardcover

Wilson, Jeremy

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689119348 ISBN 13: 9780689119347

Publisher: Atheneum, 1989

Synopsis

Dust jacket notes: "Lawrence of Arabia -- the name conjures up swirling visions of desert sand and galloping camels, of epic victories and horrific personal sacrifices. But behind the heroic legend and the haunting images the reliable information is surprisingly scarce: Just who was T.E. Lawrence? In the pages of this book lies the answer -- or, rather, the answers. Lawrence was a medievalist who became a modern-day knight as leader of the Arab Revolt against the Turks; he was a British secret agent who became the most celebrated yet misunderstood military genius of World War I; he was an obsessed writer whose autobiography, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, is now world famous; he was an intensely private man whose name became a household word. His exploits mesmerized the general public, while his character deeply impressed those who knew him. And, at last, he has been effectively captured in print, in this landmark biography by Jeremy Wilson. Until now, such a project was impossible, as certain British Government papers relating to this role in the Arab Revolt were unavailable. By 1975, however, most of the relevant documents had been released, and Wilson was authorized by A.W. Lawrence (T.E. Lawrence's brother and literary executor) to write the official biography. This unique status gave him complete access to photographs, letters, and other documents never before researched, but allowed him freedom to publish whatever conclusions he reached. From Lawrence's promising Oxford childhood and early years as an archeologist, to his diverse military and diplomatic roles during and after World War I, Wilson -- drawing substantially on contemporary records -- provides an authentic account of Lawrence's later years, the years of supposed isolation (in reality, 'Aircraftman Ross' was often consulted by the famous and powerful), which saw the growth of Lawrence's literary ambition and renown...."

About this title

From Publishers Weekly:

Thomas Edward Lawrence's discovery that he was an illegitimate child filled him with deep bitterness and insecurity. As "Lawrence of Arabia," he struggled to achieve a sense of identity and personal worth missing in his boyhood. His homosexual rape by Turkish captors in 1917 scarred him with guilt and shame, making the prospect of consummation in a marriage abhorrent, contends Wilson, official biographer as authorized by the Lawrence estate, who rebuts claims that his subject had homosexual affairs. According to this 1200-page tome, Lawrence was not the benevolent imperialist some critics have made him out to be, but an ardent supporter of Arab self-determination who felt morally degraded by the compromising role the British forced him to play in the Arab revolt against Turkish rule. This sense of debasement, argues Wison, engendered a masochistic disorder that later led Lawrence to enlist in the Royal Air Force. Through its comprehensive amassing of facts and documents, the book credibly replaces the romantic legend of Lawrence with the image of a tragic idealist whose political aims were frustrated by diplomacy. Photos.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal:

Numerous books have been written about T.E. Lawrence since his death in 1935, particularly in the last decade. This volume is fuller and more balanced than its predecessors, drawing extensively on relevant documents, including recently released British government records and never before available Lawrence family papers. Wilson successfully depicts all aspects of Lawrence's strengths and accomplishments, including his development as a literary figure and his friendships with writers and political leaders, without either minimizing or overdramatizing his psychological and emotional weaknesses. Wilson's lucid and well-paced prose style makes his careful research fascinating. This detailed study may be too elaborate for the casual reader, but it will be essential for libraries with readers seriously interested in the period or the man.
- Elizabeth R. Hayford, Assoc. Colls. of the Midwest, Chicago
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0689119348
• ISBN 13: 9780689119347
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 1188