T.E. Lawrence (1888-1935) first won fame for his writings and his participation in the British-sponsored Arab Revolt of WWI, but the adventurer known even in his day as “Lawrence of Arabia” is remembered today mostly as the subject of the 1962 film masterpiece based on his life. This splendid page-turner revitalizes this protean, enigmatic adventurer. That this colorful British scholar/Middle East warrior deserves a better fate is demonstrated amply in Michael Kordas’ authoritative 784-page biography. Exciting, well-written, and relevant.

Book Review:  ★★★★★★

I found this book to be a fascinating read — I just wish the NOOK version had been better edited.  There were portions where you would go from one page to another, and  a paragraph just seemed to be missing, or at least a portion of one.  I don’t know if that was something that was a format issue — or if it was an editing problem all together — but it got to be really frustrating.  That aside, this is a book that for a biography is a fascinating read.  In a time when the world is lacking in true heroes, this book provides action, intrigue, and insight into a very enigmatic man. 

Most heroes are considered such because they are frequently larger than life in all aspects of their lives.  They have personalities such that they are not just comfortable with themselves — but with other people as well.  They do not suffer from doubt and concern about their actions.  Rather, they have the unique ability to identify a course of action — and then wade through the challenges that may stand in their way to achieve that objective.  They are commanding, efficient, powerful leaders, and generally have the trust of all those around them.  They frequently have the reputation of being able to achieve anything — the more impossible it appears, the more likely they are to achieve that goal.  Additionally they earn the trust of others easily, mainly because their confidence in themselves is so high.  This would be only a brief description of T. E. Lawrence — more commonly known as Lawrence of Arabia.  And this book is a fantastic look into his charismatic personality that frequently dominated any group of people he could be found among.  The champion of the Arab people in a time that the British were still trying to expand their empire — Lawrence refused to back down in his efforts to help establish the Arab countries into independent nations — without the influence of the other countries surrounding them.   

The presentation of Lawrence, and his actions were both brutally honest, and in depth.  Korda worked hard to present an unbiased look at this complex personality.  The book covers the life of Lawrence, his love of the world around him, and his commitment to explore that world on his own terms.  In addition, it presents his love for the Arab culture, their nomadic way of life, and their struggle to establish themselves as independent nations.  Lawrence’s commitment to the Arab people became his own cause.  He adopted their way of life, and their struggle against the Western nations, all of whom had designs on the oil recently found under the Arab peoples’ land.  He devoted his World War I service, and the remainder of his life to the fight to keep the Arab nations an entity unto themselves, and fought hard to help them reach that goal. Though he died young, Lawrence was a man of decisive action, and his commitment to the Arab cause was absolute, and without waiver.

This book has the intensity of a novel, and reads more like a story than a biography or history book.  The things that went on during this particular time — frequently forgotten in the face of the the rest of the world that found themselves in the midst of this World War — are events that have been frequently forgotten today.  But this book also gives insight into the background from which Lawrence came, and how he developed into such an unusual character — even within his own family.  But Korda also explores how the man and the legend merge into a living entity in this book.  How he developed into more than another British officer, but rather, he became a legendary name that would eventually define not only him, but leave his mark among the Arab nations, and come to be associated with revolution within the Arab culture. 

This book is well written, and delves into a story about a man that is frequently forgotten today.  It is a story that is as intense as a spy novel, with the strategic genius of the best military novels, and explores a mysterious man that went on to become a true, living legend.  This is one of those books that I point to when I think of how truth will always be better than fiction.  And it is one biography that I consider worth the time to read. 

For more information about this book, and its author be sure to visit the following websites:

Author’s Publisher Website

New York Times Article about Michael Korda

Publisher’s Weekly Article

New York Times Book Review

When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, The Book Worm’s Library earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog by contributing to giveaways, postage, travel, and attending book industry related events. We appreciate all those that help to support our blog, and have provided links below for the direct links to this book.

“The first book to belong permanently to literature. It created a man.” 
— From the Introduction

Few men could compare to Benjamin Franklin. Virtually self-taught, he excelled as an athlete, a man of letters, a printer, a scientist, a wit, an inventor, an editor, and a writer, and he was probably the most successful diplomat in American history. David Hume hailed him as the first great philosopher and great man of letters in the New World.

Written initially to guide his son, Franklin’s autobiography is a lively, spellbinding account of his unique and eventful life. Stylistically his best work, it has become a classic in world literature, one to inspire and delight readers everywhere.

Book Review:  ★★★★★★

Ok — in being fully honest with myself, and my readers, I have to admit that this is not a book I would have voluntarily picked up on my own.  However, as an English assignment in the what seems like eternal quest for my bachelor’s degree, this was on the required reading assignments for this semester.  Frequently my approach to American revolutionary literature is something I have avoided.  Not because I don’t find it valid, and even insightfully important.  But, I think it is more of an issue of over exposure.  Like that from my religious history background — it gets so overused in quotes, references, dogma, and politics — usually by people trying to twist the simple messages into points for their own arguments — that I get frustrated with trying to simply read and think for myself. 

So, when I started reading this book I found that I was surprised at several of my responses.  Yes, I still felt frustration at the phrases that so many people have used, mainly from Franklin’s almanac publications.  I really get irritated with those trite phrases and simple points of logic that — at Franklin’s time were probably novel, and useful.  However, in today’s society we have heard them so often, and in so many forms that they just don’t carry the same meaning they did when first written.  But once I actually got into the autobiography, and political writings, I found that there was a whole world there that is as important, and true today as the first time they were written. 

Franklin’s wit, and ironic satyr is what comes through the loudest.  While reading this book, it is easy to see why Franklin was considered not only a dangerous man, but a loveable one as well.  I found myself thinking that my response, at first reading, was probably the same thing that the British thought when they first encountered his writings.  They are amusing anecdotes, and personal insights that are valuable for all men to understand — and therefore, while not dangerous, at least entertaining in format. 

However, upon deeper reflection, the reader comes away with the impression that this was a man that was politically savvy, and highly intelligent.  Not only did he understand the times he lived in, and the radical ideas that he helped engendered in this wayward set of colonies — but he had a unique insight into the understanding of men, and human nature.  He knew how to communicate to them his messages in a non-threatening, and even entertaining way, so as to make the same statements that would eventually mark Thomas Paine as a traitor, and earn him the sobriquet of “The Firebrand of the Revolution.”  And yet, Franklin was able to work and live outside of the United States for extended periods at a time during a time that any chance to capture and convict traitors to the crown was a very real possibility. 

There is also an element of passion in the subdued approach in Franklin’s down to earth presentation of life in revolutionary America.  This volatile era of political upheaval comes through as a dangerous and even character defining era.  It is evident to see why so many strong personalities were defined in this rapidly changing society.  And it is even more insightful to see that there were varying degrees of changing opinion in a much longer period of time than most realize that ranged from outright loyalty to the British crown, all the way through a complete declaration of independence.  And what is most interesting about this insight is that Franklin never got around to writing about his activities during the actual revolution, or the controversial years just preceding it.  For this reason, the reader comes away realizing that the ideas that are presented in all of the American history classes were much more protracted, and drawn out than is actually portrayed in most writing of modern authors. 

This is a book that is a fascinating read for several reasons, and it is one that I would consider a must read if someone is looking for actual insight into life in revolutionary America.

For more information about this author and his works be sure to visit the following websites:

Benjamin Franklin Brief Biography

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Exhibit

When you buy a product (not just books – any product), via one of my links, The Book Worm’s Library earns income from the sale and as always, it’s much appreciated as all affiliate income is used to support the blog by contributing to giveaways, postage, travel, and attending book industry related events. We appreciate all those that help to support our blog, and have provided links below for the direct links to this book.