T. E. Lawrence Puzzle

From the early 1920s to the late 1960s, T. E. Lawrence’s life and career were largely the subject of sensationalist speculation, fired mainly by the romantic image of “Lawrence of Arabia.” Then, as the result of various political, scholarly, and intellectual developments, study of Lawrence’s career and influence began to take on a new aspect. This collection of fourteen essays, including Stephen E. Tabachnick’s extensive introduction, provides balanced and fully documented analyses of Lawrence’s multifaceted career by an international group of scholars. The T. E. Lawrence Puzzle will appeal to Lawrence experts and to general readers interested in objective, reasoned perspectives on a brilliant polymath with a fascinating personality, whose many achievements remain very relevant to our own times.

“This collection brings together the pieces of the enigma which is Lawrence and tries to set the record straight. Even those who think they know all about this king-maker and uncrowned king—this literary genius, this test driver of motorcycles and motorboats, this spy, archaeologist, guerilla leader, diplomat, and translator, too—will be impressed at the range of subjects included here; the book is a virtual encyclopedia on Lawrence.”—English Literature in Transition

Stephen E. Tabachnick is a professor of English at the University of Memphis. He is the author or editor of many books, including Teaching the Graphic Novel, Lawrence of Arabia: An Encyclopedia, and Explorations in Doughty’s “Arabia Deserta” (Georgia).