Product Description

It is 1916. The Allies are struggling in the Great War. The Ottoman Sultan calls for a pan-Islamic jihad against all non-Muslims except Germans. But Sharif Husein, ruler of the holy city of Mecca, is smarting under Turkish rule, fomenting Arab nationalism and lobbying the British to support him. It seems to the British a good idea secretly to encourage an Arab revolt. "Setting the Desert on Fire" is a masterly account of this key moment made legendary by T. E. Lawrence, but here filled with a wide range of characters including the British Prime Minister Lloyd George, whose desire to capture 'Jerusalem by Christmas' had consequences that reverberate to this day.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #117329 in Books
• Published on: 2007-06-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Review
'Packs as much punch as one of Lawrence's train-blowing explosives' Sunday Times 'Barr puts the story of the Arab revolt and Lawrence's heroics in a wider context. This broad canvas takes in two extraordinary years of war and scores of significant characters Barr has been diligent in his research' Sunday Times 'Barr's cogent, vividly written book puts Lawrence centre stage but does not lose sight of the uprising's larger historical context' Financial Times '[Barr] introduces fresh materials to give new context to Lawrence and the present difficulties in Iraq' The Times

Financial Times
Cogent, vividly written

The Times
Give[s] new context to Lawrence and the present difficulties in Iraq

Customer Reviews

Gripping narrative made personal by fascinating trip in Lawrence's footsteps
This is a very well-written book which throws a welcome light on the development of the relationship between the West and the Arab peoples. Compellingly paced and constructed, the book brings to life a lively and larger than life cast of characters, of whom TE Lawrence is just one. Barr's forceful narrative drive is enhanced by his appealing device of weaving in his own research trips through the region and the archives. Whether navigating wadis, photographing castles and train wrecks, or using CSI techniques to re-examine Lawrence's diaries, this adds a whole extra dimension to the book. It also adds a depth of understanding that helps readers who, like me, may not have a detailed knowledge of the region.

Barr has a fine historian's judgement, which he uses to good effect to provide sound analysis of events and motivations. A seriously good addition to the literature, and an interesting and timely focus on the Arab War.

Setting the desert in context
A good book on a perennially popular theme; it is scholarly and thorough, without being bookish or dull. James Barr writes compellingly and well, while still including plenty of original material and quotes from authentic sources. Crucially, he does not commit the cardinal sin of making his book less interesting or more serious than the events he explores, and manages to tread a fine line between writing a dry analysis of governmental policy and a 'boys' own' adventure story of romantic warfare in the desert. He discusses both aspects in an appropriate register, dealing lucidly with the complex political and strategic issues, while still injecting excitement into his narrative of the raids on the Hijaz railway, but without trivialising them.

The book really succeeds in showing the desert campaign in its context. This is no hagiography of Lawrence; Barr manages to see past Lawrence to all the other British officers involved, and also to the Arabs themselves, more usually seen as a picturesque backdrop to daring Public School escapades behind enemy lines. Equally, this is no revisionist history, attempting to cut Lawrence down to size. It is clear that he was a major figure, and a fascinating one, but not the only man involved. He shows Lawrence as a complex character; difficult, self-publicising, occasionally unreliable and troubled, but brilliant and the right man in the right place. It is also clear from the original sources quoted that there was an element of dashing amateurism in the Arab revolt; the raids are often described as 'stunts' and so on. Barr is good on allowing these sources to speak for themselves, while explaining the context and thus allowing the readers to judge for themselves how much credence to give to them.

Another strength is the recurrent theme of the contradictory statements issued by the British government at the time; in particular the Sykes-Picot agreement (imperialist and pro-French), the Balfour Declaration (pro-Zionist and one of the founding documents of modern Israel) and the various more or less explicit undertakings given to the Arabs concerning their self-determination after the war. The changes in opinion, the rival camps with different aims reflected in the three different policies alluded to above, the view from the British Raj in India and US statements condemning imperialist war aims are all dealt with clearly and comprehensively. Barr shows how these competing aims led to confusion and acrimony, but also how later generations have made more of these rather vaguely worded diplomatic formulae than was probably intended at the time.

In all, an excellent book which is deeply readable and well balanced. It has achieved some degree of objectivity in an area obscured by all kinds of myths, both personal and political. One small complaint, however: more maps accompanying the text, in the same manner as the original editions of The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, would have been helpful.

A gripping and very accessible read
I have to confess that, not being well-versed in the military or political history of the Middle East, I approached this book with a certain degree of trepidation. I couldn't have been more wrong. After only one chapter, I was absolutely hooked and couldn't wait to read on. Barr's narrative is at the same time both intelligent and accessible and his pacy prose combined with personal anecdotes engage the reader from the outset. His ferreting out of previously unknown evidence about Lawrence's diaries adds a sense of intrigue and excitement frequently missing from non-fiction.

My only complaint is that, whilst reading this on holiday in Greece, I discovered that the cover wilts and bubbles when the temperature rises above 40. Somewhat ironic for a book about the desert...

An excellent read and one I highly recommend.