Lawrence in Arabia

Lawrence in Arabia by Scott Anderson, Doubleday Paperback, 2013. 

Archaeologist

T. E. Lawrence was an archaeologist by profession. When working in the Middle East before World War I, he learned Arabic and also much about the Arabs. When World War I started, he became an officer in the British army. He understood the situation on the ground better than any of the British career officers in the Middle East. Although some of the British diplomats and army officers saw him as a troublemaker and loose cannon, most viewed him as a valuable asset. 

Arab Revolt

During World War I, Britain, France and Russia were allied against German, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Turkish Ottoman Empire. The British and French encouraged the Arabs to revolt against their Ottoman (Turkish) bosses, in order to put pressure on Turkey. Lawrence understood the best ways to make use of the Arab fighters. Similarly, the Russians encouraged the Armenians to rebel against their Ottoman masters, then abandoned them. 

Gallipoli

Lawrence thought that the British and French should attack the Turks at Alexandretta. But instead, the British and French forces attacked at Gallipoli, which ended up being a terrible mistake.

King Hussein and son Sheikh Faisal

The Arabs of the Hijaz were lead by King Hussein. Hussein was sherif of Mecca and Medina (the Hijaz). King Hussein had four sons: Ali, Abdullah, Faisal and Zeid. Lawrence worked mainly with the third son, Sheikh Faisal.

False Promise of Independence

Interestingly, the Arabs saw the British as being more honest than they actually were. The British and French promised the Arabs independence if they helped in the fight against the Turks. After the Turks lost, and the Ottoman Empire was dismembered, the Arabs received somewhat less than they had been promised.

Interesting Topics Discussed

• the rivalry between Britain and France,

• the secret Sykes-Picot agreement,

• German spies in the Middle East,

• Zionist spies in the Middle East,

• American (Standard Oil) oil interests in the Middle East,

• many of the foot soldiers fighting in the British Army were actually from British India