Synopses & Reviews
Lawrence of Arabia's heroism during the Arab revolt, and his disgust at the subsequent betrayal of the Arabs in the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, has become the stuff of legends. But T. E. Lawrence's adventures in the Levant began long before the outbreak of war. Anthony Sattin here delivers the untold story of the awkward archaeologist from Oxford who, on first visiting "The East" at the age of twenty, fell in love with Arab culture and found his life's mission. Drawing on surviving letters, diaries, and accounts from close confidantes, Sattin uncovers new aspects of Lawrence's family history, his tender relationship with a young Syrian boy, and his longing for a nomadic life among the ruins of the Crusades. In a masterful parallel narrative, The Young T. E. Lawrence charts the maturation of the man and the incipient countries he treasured, both coming of age at a time when the world's foundations were coming undone.
Review
"T. E. Lawrence has always been one of the most enigmatic figures of the twentieth century, but he becomes markedly less so here. Through meticulous research and crackling prose, Sattin charts the youthful passions and influences--and not a few family and personal secrets--that helped create the future Lawrence of Arabia, and he has done so in an account so well-written that it is hard to put down. An absolutely indispensable read for anyone hoping to understand the evolution of one of the most beguiling and romantic figures of the modern age." Scott Anderson, author of Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East
Review
"I enjoyed very much. On the subject of biography, Ulysses S. Grant once wrote that 'What I want to know is what a man did as a boy,' i.e., 'the formative years,' and while Lawrence is not a boy in Anthony Sattin's splendid book, he clearly prefigures Lawrence of Arabia--a conscious striving toward becoming a hero, and a bold exploration not only of the Middle East but of himself." Michael Korda, author of Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia
Review
"Anthony Sattin knows a good story when he sees one. While most of Lawrence's biographers focus heavily on the war period, Sattin has grasped the importance of the years Lawrence spent in the Middle East beforehand, essential preparation for what followed. As a travel writer enlarging on the writings of a forerunner, Sattin also often enriches Lawrence's account. I thoroughly enjoyed the result." Jeremy Wilson, author of Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T. E. Lawrence
Review
"Sattin's unique portrait reveals an itinerant scholar adventurously immersing himself in the history, peoples, and landscapes of the Near East, the chrysalis of the brilliant figure soon to emerge: Lawrence of Arabia." Steve Kemper, author of A Labyrinth of Kingdoms
Review
"Sattin has written a compelling account of a young man learning to live according to his dreams." Observer (London)
Review
"Anthony Sattin proves that the British know how to write a great adventure as well as how to have one. This highly readable book never lacks the big story but it also does not let that history lose the hero." Robert Davis
Review
"Approaches the oft-profiled T.E. Lawrence from a new angle... engaging." New York Journal of Books
Review
"Sattin paints a rich picture of these years in Lawrence's life." Publishers Weekly
Review
"[A] quirky but rigorous biographical study...biographers such as Mr. Sattin have to be diggers and restorers, sifting a mass of evidence and gluing the bits together." Philip Delves Broughton Wall Street Journal
Review
"Passionate, informed... Anthony Sattin reached that place of grace in his research for where a writer can relax and let the story tell itself. And what a story he has to tell." The Economist
Synopsis
An intimate biography of the years that turned T. E. Lawrence into Lawrence of Arabia.
About the Author
Anthony Sattin is an award-winning journalist and the author of several acclaimed history and travel books. He has been traveling in the Middle East for more than twenty years. He lives in London.