Summary of Lawrence of Arabia by Ranulph Fiennes: My Journey in Search of T. E. Lawrence

By GP SUMMARY

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Summary of Lawrence of Arabia by Ranulph Fiennes: My Journey in Search of T. E. Lawrence

 

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Ranulph Fiennes' biography of T. E. Lawrence, a British archaeologist and adventurer, provides a detailed account of his life, including his involvement in the 1916 Arab Revolt, his legendary 300-mile journey, and his £20,000 price. Fiennes' in-depth knowledge of the unknown provides enthralling insight into Lawrence's remarkable life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Jan 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9783755467823

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Summary of

Lawrence of Arabia

A

Summary of Ranulph Fiennes’s book

My Journey in Search of T. E. Lawrence

GP SUMMARY

Summary of Lawrence of Arabia by Ranulph Fiennes: My Journey in Search of T. E. Lawrence

By GP SUMMARY© 2024, GP SUMMARY.

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Introduction

In 1967, the author, a tank troop leader, was bored and contemplating his future. He received a letter from a major in his regiment who had been posting to the Omani Army, offering a chance to fight alongside Arab tribes and Marxist rebels. The author was excited about this opportunity, as it seemed like a chance to see action against the Marxists. He filled out the application form, which was signed by the colonel. Later, he joined eight other officers at an Army school in Beaconsfield to learn Arabic and understand the situation in Oman.

The instructor asked if the author had any experience of action, and the author replied that he had no. The instructor then provided a map and explained the situation.

In 1967, Britain withdrew from Aden, leading to the spread of Marxism in the region. The Russian and Chinese imperialists targeted Dhofar, Oman, where many Dhofaris were rising up against the aging Sultan of Oman. Oil had been discovered in 1964, and the Sultan had retired to his palace, keeping the country in the dark ages. The Dhofar Liberation Front was formed, and guerrilla fighters were sent to Moscow and Peking to be trained and supplied with state-of-the-art weapons. Over 2,000 insurgents supported by the Soviet Union were fighting the Sultan's meagre forces in the Dhofar mountains.

The Soviet Union and its guerrillas were crucial in taking Dhofar and Oman, as over two-thirds of the oil requirements of the free world were derived from countries in the Persian Gulf. The Soviet Union and its guerrillas could blackmail the West with threats to oil supplies. Fiennes, a British officer, was assigned to lead an Arab platoon in Dhofar against the adoo, a mountain fighter who knew every inch of their land.

Fiennes reflected on his experiences in Oman, recognizing T. E. Lawrence as a hero who inspired him to victory in life-or-death situations. He sought to understand Lawrence's life and offer a unique perspective on his fascinating life.

Prologue

1913: Carchemish

In the early 20th century, a wise man, Thomas Edward Lawrence, was a respected medicine man and judge known for his expertise in tribal matters. Lawrence, a twenty-five-year-old British man, arrived in Carchemish after completing his studies at Jesus College, Oxford. He was taken under the wing of David Hogarth, a professor and archaeologist, and was tasked with supervising an archaeological dig at the ancient Hittite city of Carchemish. Lawrence was genuinely interested in his men and took the time to talk with them. He also earned great favor by dressing in Arab robes, eating their food, and even sleeping out in the open.

Launce was drawn to the Arabs' simple lives and sought to protect them from the materialism and self-interest of the West. He adopted their dress and mannerisms, living as an Arab of the desert. The men loved Lawrence for his childlike enthusiasm and generosity in paying bonuses for discoveries. His sense of fairness won their respect, and he was invited to arbitrate tribal feuds.

However, in 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Austria led to war across Europe. Lawrence's adventures in the Middle East were over, but events in Syria would soon change the course of the war, and the hopes and dreams of an Arab prince and much of the Middle East would rest on his shoulders.

In 1916, Sherif Feisal bin Hussein, the third son of Sherif Hussein Ibn Ali, was in Damascus advocating for his people's independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Arabs of the Hejaz had long agitated for their independence, but the Ottomans' superior armed forces had been able to suppress any uprising. Sultan Abdul Hamid II recognized the need for action and planned to revolutionize travel through the desolate Hejaz desert. In 1908, the first phase of the Hejaz Railway was built, initially covering 800 miles between Medina and Damascus, with plans to extend it to Mecca. However, the plan backfired, as the Bedouin tribes of the Hejaz opposed the railway, leading to violent protests and the scrapping of the planned 280-mile extension.

In 1913, Sultan Abdul Hamid was deposed by the Young Turks, who seized control and attempted to assert their dominance over their Arab lands. Feisal, a member of the Turkish parliament, was a diplomat and well-liked by the Young Turks, who implicitly trusted him and made him an esteemed guest in Damascus. Despite his diplomatic abilities, Feisal was working from within, plotting an uprising against his Ottoman masters and their grip over the Hejaz.

Feisal, a prominent figure in the Young Turks, had been meeting with secret rebel societies in Damascus to organize an opposition against the Ottomans. However, the lack of a national Arab army and the hatred among Arab tribes made it difficult to mobilize the necessary support. In 1914, the Young Turks sought German assistance to occupy Russia and