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

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...."