Behind the Lawrence Legend: The Forgotten Few Who Shaped the Arab Revolt

T. E. Lawrence's achievements during the Arab Revolt of 1916-18 were made possible by the unsung efforts of Colonel Cyril Wilson and a forgotten band of fellow officers and spies. This groundbreaking account by Philip Walker interweaves the compelling stories of Colonel Cyril Wilson and a colourful supporting cast with the narrative of Lawrence and the desert campaign. Wilson's crucial influence underpinned all these missions and steadied the revolt on a number of occasions when it could have collapsed. Behind the Lawrence Legend reveals their vital impact and helps to set the record straight for one of the most beguiling and iconic characters of the twentieth century.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2018
Publisher: Oxford University Press

T.E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, gained worldwide fame for his role in helping Sherif Hussein of Mecca gain independence from Turkey during the Arab Revolt of 1916-18. However, his achievements would have been impossible without the unsung efforts of a forgotten band of fellow officers and spies. This groundbreaking account by Philip Walker intertwines the compelling stories of Colonel Cyril Wilson and a colorful supporting cast with the narrative of Lawrence and the desert campaign. These men's lost tales provide a remarkable and fresh perspective on Lawrence and the Arab Revolt.

While Lawrence and others engaged in daring acts of sabotage in the desert, Wilson and his men carried out their shadowy intelligence and diplomatic work. His deputies rooted out anti-British jihadists who were attempting to sabotage the revolt. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Lionel Gray, a cipher officer, provided a gateway into unknown aspects of the revolt through his previously unpublished photographs and eyewitness writings. Wilson's crucial influence underpinned all these missions and steadied the revolt on numerous occasions when it could have collapsed. Without Wilson and his circle, there would have been no Lawrence of Arabia.

Yet, Wilson's band largely fell through the cracks of history into obscurity. Behind the Lawrence Legend reveals their vital impact and puts Lawrence's efforts into context, thus helping to set the record straight for one of the most beguiling and iconic characters of the twentieth century.

Weight: 696g
Dimension: 243 x 167 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780198802273