Lawrence of Arabia - by Ranulph Fiennes (Hardcover)

About the Book

"As a young British intelligence officer in Cairo, archaeologist and adventurer Thomas Edward Lawrence became involved in the 1916 Arab Revolt, fighting alongside rebel forces against the Ottomans. He made a legendary 300-mile journey through blistering heat; he wore Arab dress; and he strongly identified with the people in his adopted lands. By 1918, he had a ¹20,000 price on his head. Despite readers' long fascination in his story, Lawrence--one of history's most enigmatic adventurers--has long remained unknowable, But with in-depth knowledge of what it takes to venture into the unknown, this authoritative biography from famed explorer Ranulph Fiennes at last brings enthralling insight and clarity to this remarkable life"--

Book Synopsis

A vivid and illuminating biography of the famed T. E. Lawrence, written by "the world's greatest living explorer," Ranulph Fiennes.

As a young British intelligence officer in Cairo, archaeologist and adventurer Thomas Edward Lawrence became involved in the 1916 Arab Revolt, fighting alongside rebel forces against the Ottomans. He made a legendary 300-mile journey through blistering heat; he wore Arab dress; and he strongly identified with the people in his adopted lands.

By 1918, he had a £20,000 price on his head.

Despite readers' long fascination in his story, Lawrence--one of history's most enigmatic adventurers--has long remained unknowable, But with in-depth knowledge of what it takes to venture into the unknown, this authoritative biography from famed explorer Ranulph Fiennes at last brings enthralling insight and clarity to this remarkable life.

Review Quotes

"Mr. Fiennes's Lawrence of Arabia: My Journey in Search of T.E. Lawrence is a casually elegant biography. 'No man is unblemished, particularly those who reach for greatness, ' writes Mr. Fiennes, a fine biographer and autobiographer. The empire that Lawrence served is gone, and the Arab states in whose birth he played a crucial role are in chaos, but his hold on the English imagination endures in the post-imperial age. Mr. Fiennes has written a subtle and sympathetic account of a hero who did not want to be known."--Dominic Green, The Wall Street Journal


"An engaging, deeply personal, sometimes slightly eccentric new study by the adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes."--Air Mail

"A biography of T.E. Lawrence, including accounts of his military and political work in supporting the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire in WWI, runs parallel to Fiennes' recollection of events in Oman and their relation to Lawrence's experiences. Fiennes' descriptions of the immense Arabian Desert and its weather are arresting and surprising, his account suspenseful." -- "Booklist"

"A world-renowned explorer and prolific writer turns his attention to Ernest Shackleton, a giant of the heroic age of polar exploration, with entirely satisfying results. The definitive biography of a legendary adventurer."-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred)"

"Fiennes brings the promised perspective of one who has been there, illuminating Shackleton's actions by comparing them with his own. Beginners to the Heroic Age will enjoy this volume, as will serious polar adventurers seeking advice. For all readers, it's a tremendous story."-- "Sara Wheeler, The Wall Street Journal"

"Fiennes' own experiences certainly allow him to write vividly and with empathy of the hell that these men went through."-- "The Sunday Times (London)"

"Fiennes's admiration shines through. A thorough record of Shackleton's successes and failures."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"Think of Fiennes, rather, as an Edwardian raconteur with veiny cheeks and a plummy growl who pours you a dram and pulls you close to the fire. He concedes that Shackleton was bad at business, bad at planning, bad at domestic life, and all too adept at taking risks. But he endorses the conclusion that 'When you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton.'"-- "Air Mail"

"When Ranulph Fiennes produces a book about Ernest Shackleton, it should get our attention. I found that the best way to read this book is to imagine that you are in a pub sharing a beer with Sir Ranulph while he regales you with his tale about Ernest Shackleton. Fiennes moves the narrative along at a good pace and his storytelling becomes particularly animated when he is describing the actual grind of slogging through the snow and ice."-- "Lloyd Spencer Davis, The New York Times Book Review (front page review)"

Praise for Shackleton: A Biography:

About the Author

Ranulph Fiennes, author of Shackleton: The Biography, is the only man alive ever to have traveled around the Earth's circumpolar surface. His record-breaking expeditions include travel by riverboat, hovercraft, man-haul sledge, skidoo, Land Rover, and skis. He is often described by media as "the world's greatest living explorer." When not on one of his adventures, he lives in Britain.