Lawrence in Arabia
War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East
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3.7 • 280 Ratings
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A New York Times Notable Book • Finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Biography • A thrilling and revelatory narrative of one of the most epic and consequential periods in 20th century history – the Arab Revolt and the secret “great game” to control the Middle East
“A fascinating book, the best work of military history in recent memory and an illuminating analysis of issues that still loom large today."—The New York Times
"Brilliant. . . . A dazzling accomplishment that combines superb historical research with a compelling narrative.”
—The Seattle Times
The Arab Revolt against the Turks in World War I was, in the words of T. E. Lawrence, “a sideshow of a sideshow.” As a result, the conflict was shaped to a remarkable degree by a small handful of adventurers and low-level officers far removed from the corridors of power.
At the center of it all was Lawrence himself. In early 1914 he was an archaeologist excavating ruins in Syria; by 1917 he was riding into legend at the head of an Arab army as he fought a rearguard action against his own government and its imperial ambitions. Based on four years of intensive primary document research, Lawrence in Arabia definitively overturns received wisdom on how the modern Middle East was formed.
One of the Best Books of the Year: NPR, The Christian Science Monitor, The Seattle Times , St. Louis Post-Dispatch , Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Justifying this addition to the mountain of works on T.E. Lawrence, fabled war correspondent Anderson (The Man Who Tried to Save the World) reasons that "Lawrence was both eyewitness to and participant in some of the most pivotal events leading to the creation of the modern Middle East... a corner of the earth where even the simplest assertion is dissected and parsed and argued over." Too many biographers of Lawrence, he suggests, have let political biases and academic hobbyhorses overshadow their work. Anderson's own experience in some of the world's most chaotic places allows him to speak with authority in his portrayal, at once critical and appreciative, of Lawrence and other larger-than-life individuals who left their mark on the region. A flair for the dramatic makes even the dullest historical moments redolent of palace intrigue and imperialist hubris. Readers seeking to understand why turmoil has been so omnipresent in the Middle East will benefit from Anderson's easy prose, which makes liberal use of primary sources and research, but reads like a political thriller. The central message seems as relevant today as it was a century ago: revolutions whose success is dependent on the patronage of external powers come at a high price a "loss of autonomy" and an influx of foreign carpetbaggers who show little concern for the inhabitants of the newly "free" land.
Customer Reviews
Lawrence Revealed
Along with the machinations of the various personalities and governments. Richly detailed and fascinating, highly recommended.
Lawrence in Arabia
I have never read a book with so many mind boggling stories detailing so many unbelievably bad decisions and bad actors. The Middle East while probably still with its many miseries would have been a far better place than it is today. The sins of British and French Colonialism lives on to this day. An absolute must read.
Lawerence in Arabia
This book has a compelling combination of cinematic storytelling and clearly presented history.