Lawrence of Arabia

My Journey in Search of T. E. Lawrence

Ranulph Fiennes

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.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is the first man to have reached both poles by surface travel and the first to have crossed the Antarctic Continent unsupported. He is the only person in the world to have been awarded two clasps to the Polar Medal for both the Antarctic and Arctic regions. Fiennes also led the first polar circumnavigation of the earth. In 1993 Her Majesty the Queen awarded Fiennes the Order of the British Empire (OBE) because, on the way to breaking these historic records, he has raised over twenty millions dollars for charity. In 2003 he ran seven marathons in seven days on seven continents in aid of the Heart Foundation. In 2009 he became the oldest Briton to reach the summit of Everest.

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Endorsements & Reviews

“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

Praise for Shackleton: A Biography:

“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

“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)

“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

"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

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

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