"The best study of Lawrence yet written"
-The [London] Sunday Times. ( )

The book is structured to place the work of Lawrence into a broader evolution of Middle Eastern events and politics and thus attempts to strike a balance between "the Great Man makes history" and "Events control mankind" theories of history. It includes a very good set of summary chapters that review the changing approaches to writing about Lawrence and the shifting events in the Middle East and how Lawrence affected them and was overtaken by them. Also includes a good analysis of the other books about Lawrence.