Lawrence The Uncrowned King of Arabia

Lawrence was both masochist and misogynist, a constant creator of myths and mysteries about himself. Yet this tormented, physically unimpressive man was also one of the authentic heroes of the twentieth century. Most biographers have been content either to glorify or to debunk, but Arabist and desert explorer Michael Asher has re-examined all the evidence to reveal a totally credible mixture of strength and weakness, self-glorification and real achievement. 'Asher's Lawrence is neither a driven visionary nor a great man, but one who had the right talents for an awfully big adventure. That adventure is Asher's subject... the core of his book is a lucid, fast-paced account of Lawrence's war... the story he has to tell is irresistibly stirring.' Lucy Hughes-Hallet, Sunday Times