ThoughtGallery.org > Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East

Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly and the Making of the Modern Middle East

The Arab Revolt against the Turks in World War I was, in the words of T.E. Lawrence, “a sideshow of a sideshow.” Amidst the slaughter in European trenches, the Western combatants paid scant attention to the Middle Eastern theater. As a result, the conflict was shaped to a remarkable degree by a small handful of adventurers and low-level officers far removed from the corridors of power.

At the center of it all was Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. In early 1914 he was an archeologist excavating ruins in the sands of Syria; by 1917 he was the most romantic figure of World War I, battling both the enemy and his own government to bring about the vision he had for the Arab people.

How did the Arab Revolt and Lawrence shape the Middle East? How are his actions of a century ago still being felt today? Who were the other lesser-known adventurers of this world?

Scott Anderson is a novelist, journalist, war correspondent, and the author of Lawrence in Arabia. His other books include Triage, Moonlight Hotel, The Man Who Tried to Save the World, and War Zones. Anderson is a frequent contributor to The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Esquire, Men’s Journal, Vanity Fair, and other publications.











When: Mon., Jun. 16, 2014 at 8:00 am - 9:15 am
Where: Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
170 East 64th Street
212-838-4120
Price: Free for students; $25 for non-members
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The Arab Revolt against the Turks in World War I was, in the words of T.E. Lawrence, “a sideshow of a sideshow.” Amidst the slaughter in European trenches, the Western combatants paid scant attention to the Middle Eastern theater. As a result, the conflict was shaped to a remarkable degree by a small handful of adventurers and low-level officers far removed from the corridors of power.

At the center of it all was Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. In early 1914 he was an archeologist excavating ruins in the sands of Syria; by 1917 he was the most romantic figure of World War I, battling both the enemy and his own government to bring about the vision he had for the Arab people.

How did the Arab Revolt and Lawrence shape the Middle East? How are his actions of a century ago still being felt today? Who were the other lesser-known adventurers of this world?

Scott Anderson is a novelist, journalist, war correspondent, and the author of Lawrence in Arabia. His other books include Triage, Moonlight Hotel, The Man Who Tried to Save the World, and War Zones. Anderson is a frequent contributor to The New York Times Magazine, GQ, Esquire, Men’s Journal, Vanity Fair, and other publications.

Buy tickets/get more info now