Behind the Lawrence Legend by Philip Walker
'Lawrence of Arabia' became world-famous during the Arab Revolt of 1916-18. However, his achievements would have been impossible without the efforts of an unsung band of fellow officers and spies. Their compelling and forgotten stories provide a few perspective on Lawrence and the renowned WWI campaign.
By opening a new window into how the British operated in Arabia and how British agents understood their roles and goals, Walker does worthwhile and constructive work..his book is a useful contribution to understanding the apparatus of imperial intervention and the process of imperial mythmaking. * Andrew Orr, Humanities and Social Science Reviews Online *
A fascinating and excellent read. * Keith Simpson MP's Summer Reading List *
Minutely researched... a worthy and thorough addition to the history of the Arab Revolt. * Literary Review *
[A] superb and genuinely original addition to the literature on Lawrence and the Arab Revolt... a compelling and exceptionally well-written narrative, the book is strongly recommended. * Neil Faulkner, Military History Monthly *
Peppered with previously unseen photographs, and written in readable prose that anchors us into rhythms of these men's daily, it is a must for anyone interested in the war Britain waged in the Middle East from 1916-18... Walker should be commended for an engaging and thoroughly researched account of the British men who underpinned Lawrence's romantic forays into the desert. * Jacob Norris, BBC History Magazine *
The meticulous research of the author... is evident on virtually every page. Walker has left almost no stone unturned. * Jacob Rosen-Koenigsbuch, Israeli Journal of Foreign Affairs *
Provide[s] a more richly detailed and nuanced background than we have had till now to the unfolding of one of the most colorful theaters of World War I. * Anthony Sattin, Wall Street Journal (Europe) *
These men's lost tales provide a remarkable and fresh perspective on Lawrence and the Arab Revolt. * Eye Spy *
An extremely welcome addition to the existing literature on the Arab Revolt in 1916-18. Exhaustively researched and colourfully written, it provides a nuanced and detailed sketch of the way the British assisted the Arab rebels, and brings to life a number of key actors whose roles have either been forgotten or obscured by the Lawrence legend. * Saul David, Telegraph *
Theres no doubt that in setting out to rescue Lawrence's colleagues from obscurity, Philip Walker has performed a valuable service... by the end [of the book], you want to give them all a clap. * John Preston, Daily Mail *
Highly recommended. * Western Front Association *
[A] seminal study ... fascinating and well-written. * Martin Bourke, Asian Affairs Journal *
Philip Walker has written a deeply investigative account of the war in Behind the Lawrence Legend and has broken new ground in examining how numerous other people and organisations - besides the legendary TE - underpinned the campaign and were crucial to its eventual success. * Tissie Roberts, Alderney Journal *
A gripping account of the Arab Revolt as seen through the eyes of the men on the ground in Jidda. Walker has uncovered remarkable new documentation and photographs that shed valuable new light on the Great War in Arabia. An outstanding book for the centenary of the Revolt. * Eugene Rogan, Director of the Middle East Centre, St Antony's College, Oxford *
This excellent account of those who underpinned the fighters in the Arab Revolt reminds us of the hardships and challenges of war in early twentieth century Arabia. By looking behind the lines Walker shows us the real scale of Lawrence's achievement and the achievements of those who supported him. * Sir Mark Allen, ex-Foreign Service *
An excellent and fascinating complement to Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom. It reveals the hidden stories of his brothers-in-arms and what they achieved during the Arab Revolt. * Lawrence James, English Historian and Writer *
After another round of books on T. E. Lawrence 'of Arabia' published on the war's centennial, it seems scarcely credible that anything new can be said on the subject. But Philip Walker has discovered an astonishing wealth of new material in private collections. The 'Forgotten Few' peers beneath the Lawrence legend to reveal the seamy underbelly of the Arab Revolt. * Sean McMeekin, Professor of History, Bard College, New York *
A fascinating and excellent read. * Keith Simpson MP's Summer Reading List *
Minutely researched... a worthy and thorough addition to the history of the Arab Revolt. * Literary Review *
[A] superb and genuinely original addition to the literature on Lawrence and the Arab Revolt... a compelling and exceptionally well-written narrative, the book is strongly recommended. * Neil Faulkner, Military History Monthly *
Peppered with previously unseen photographs, and written in readable prose that anchors us into rhythms of these men's daily, it is a must for anyone interested in the war Britain waged in the Middle East from 1916-18... Walker should be commended for an engaging and thoroughly researched account of the British men who underpinned Lawrence's romantic forays into the desert. * Jacob Norris, BBC History Magazine *
The meticulous research of the author... is evident on virtually every page. Walker has left almost no stone unturned. * Jacob Rosen-Koenigsbuch, Israeli Journal of Foreign Affairs *
Provide[s] a more richly detailed and nuanced background than we have had till now to the unfolding of one of the most colorful theaters of World War I. * Anthony Sattin, Wall Street Journal (Europe) *
These men's lost tales provide a remarkable and fresh perspective on Lawrence and the Arab Revolt. * Eye Spy *
An extremely welcome addition to the existing literature on the Arab Revolt in 1916-18. Exhaustively researched and colourfully written, it provides a nuanced and detailed sketch of the way the British assisted the Arab rebels, and brings to life a number of key actors whose roles have either been forgotten or obscured by the Lawrence legend. * Saul David, Telegraph *
Theres no doubt that in setting out to rescue Lawrence's colleagues from obscurity, Philip Walker has performed a valuable service... by the end [of the book], you want to give them all a clap. * John Preston, Daily Mail *
Highly recommended. * Western Front Association *
[A] seminal study ... fascinating and well-written. * Martin Bourke, Asian Affairs Journal *
Philip Walker has written a deeply investigative account of the war in Behind the Lawrence Legend and has broken new ground in examining how numerous other people and organisations - besides the legendary TE - underpinned the campaign and were crucial to its eventual success. * Tissie Roberts, Alderney Journal *
A gripping account of the Arab Revolt as seen through the eyes of the men on the ground in Jidda. Walker has uncovered remarkable new documentation and photographs that shed valuable new light on the Great War in Arabia. An outstanding book for the centenary of the Revolt. * Eugene Rogan, Director of the Middle East Centre, St Antony's College, Oxford *
This excellent account of those who underpinned the fighters in the Arab Revolt reminds us of the hardships and challenges of war in early twentieth century Arabia. By looking behind the lines Walker shows us the real scale of Lawrence's achievement and the achievements of those who supported him. * Sir Mark Allen, ex-Foreign Service *
An excellent and fascinating complement to Lawrence's Seven Pillars of Wisdom. It reveals the hidden stories of his brothers-in-arms and what they achieved during the Arab Revolt. * Lawrence James, English Historian and Writer *
After another round of books on T. E. Lawrence 'of Arabia' published on the war's centennial, it seems scarcely credible that anything new can be said on the subject. But Philip Walker has discovered an astonishing wealth of new material in private collections. The 'Forgotten Few' peers beneath the Lawrence legend to reveal the seamy underbelly of the Arab Revolt. * Sean McMeekin, Professor of History, Bard College, New York *
Philip Walker is an historian and a retired archaeologist who spent many years working for English Heritage. He has travelled in Libya, Palestine, Morocco, Xinjiang (the Muslim far west of China), and other parts of Central Asia. He lives in Cambridge and this is his first book.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780198802273 |
| ISBN 10 | 0198802277 |
| Title | Behind the Lawrence Legend |
| Author | Philip Walker |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
| Year published | 2018-02-08 |
| Number of pages | 314 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |