Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia [Paperback]

Michael Korda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2011

The story of an epic life on a grand scale, Michael Korda’s Hero is a gripping, in-depth biography of the extraordinary, mysterious, and dynamic Englishman still famous the world over as “Lawrence of Arabia.” An Oxford scholar and archaeologist sent to Cairo as a young intelligence officer in 1916, Lawrence was a born leader, utterly fearless and seemingly impervious to pain and fatigue. A bold and ruthless warrior, he was the virtual inventor of modern insurgency and guerrilla warfare; a writer of genius who alternately sought and fled the limelight. Korda digs deeper than anyone before him to expose the flesh-and-blood man and his contradictory nature—farsighted visionary; diplomat and kingmaker; shy, sensitive, and private man; genius military strategist; arguably the first modern “media celebrity” . . . and one of its first victims. Hero is the magisterial story of one of the most unique and fascinating figures of modern times—the arch-hero whose life was, at once, a triumph and a sacrifice.

Editorial Reviews

From Bookmarks Magazine

Despite its grand, hagiographic title, one of Hero’s greatest strengths is its ability to represent Lawrence—“a scholar and warrior, an imperialist and supporter of Arab independence, a politician and rebel, a publicity seeker and recluse” (New York Times Book Review)—as a complex, multilayered figure. Korda gives a painstaking account of Lawrence’s audacious exploits, extraordinary victories, and disheartening failures. He also dissects previous biographers’ disagreements, confronts some of the most entrenched misconceptions surrounding Lawrence, and ultimately contributes to a greater understanding of Lawrence—no small feat given that nearly sixty biographies cover much the same ground. Though some critics objected to its length, Korda’s extensive research, engaging prose, and fascinating subject will ensure that this newest biography receives a hero’s welcome among readers. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

The first 100 pages of this very lengthy biography of T. E. Lawrence will prove a trial for all readers other than military-history buffs. Once past that rocky start, however, the excessive detail of those interminable early pages becomes the rich substance of a sophisticated, rigorously pursued life-study by a distinguished editor and biographer. Lawrence—famously known as Lawrence of Arabia—has always been regarded as a vital leader, operating within the structure and goals of the British army, of the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire during WWI. In fact, as recalled and emphasized here, Lawrence emerged from the global conflict as the most renowned, and lasting, hero. He was an exceptional individual nearly from birth, with an early-born consciousness of his destiny as a hero. His cultivation of such awareness began during his schoolboy years, and he eventually showed his brilliance in military strategy, diplomacy, and politics. The map of the Middle East looks as it does today due in large part to Lawrence’s nearly single-handed nation building in the area as a leading fighter for Arab independence and, later, at the postwar Paris Peace Conference. The author’s fathoming of his subject’s convoluted sexuality adds not prurience to the picture but a definite human dimension. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Heavy media promotion, including an online publicity campaign targeting history and book blogs, will bring this book to a wide, and widely curious, audience. --Brad Hooper --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 800 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; Reprint edition (November 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061712620
• ISBN-13: 978-0061712623
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,949 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #49 in Books > History > Asia > Turkey

More About the Author

Michael Korda is the New York Times bestselling author of Horse People,
Country Matters, Ulysses S. Grant, Cat People, Journey to a Revolution, and Ike.
He lives with his wife, Margaret, in Dutchess County, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

96 of 107 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is Now The Definitive Biography of Lawrence of Arabia - A Page Turner - Read It !!!!, November 18, 2010

By 

A Customer (Westport, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia (Hardcover)

We live in an age of celebrity as created by an immense media industry. Lawrence of Arabia embodied the word celebrity; in fact he may have been the 20th century's first real celebrity as Lindberg came after him. This book cries out to be read by a readership that understands that heroes do in fact exist. This word hero has been much misused in modern day America to apply to people that the word was never intended for.

Lawrence was very much a hero, as well as many other things. He was a military genius on a level with Napoleon. He also possessed a genius for guerilla warfare and his techniques are taught at West Point as we speak. Possessing a talent for writing, his Seven Pillars of Wisdom is considered a literary masterpiece. His direct actions changed the entire map of the Middle East, and the inability of politicians to adjust to the realities of this region that Lawrence saw so vividly have led to the chaos that we see in the Middle East today.

Sheikh Hamoud had it right when he wrote so many years ago of Lawrence:

My heart was iron, but his was steel

If you love great, gifted, writing on an immense topic describing a man that truly impacted and changed the world that he saw, than Michael Korda's biography of Lawrence of Arabia is for you. This is a 700 page narrative before footnotes and biography. The quality of the paper used in the book is fabulous, and this is due to Korda's lifetime in the publishing industry. The selection of the font and the feel of the book left nothing to chance. Korda thought through every aspect of this project and brought it off with flair, and panache.

He is a master storyteller and he has demonstrated considerable scholarship in creating this page turner which is so sweeping in scope covering one of the giants of the 20th century. Here are just a few of the things you will learn about Lawrence of Arabia:

* In his early 30's he translated Homer's The Odyssey which then became accepted as the classic account of Homer's work.

* Why King George on Lawrence's untimely death in 1935 said his name will live in history?

* He possessed a dazzling display of knowledge, almost Einstein like in the topics he could converse in. Lawrence never did anything halfway. If he was in, he was in all the way.

* As a young man, an illegitimate son, along with 4 other brothers, he managed to do amazing things at Oxford. He studied and more importantly absorbed the works of every great military tactician including Admiral Mahan, and Creasy's 15 Decisive Battles of the World. Lawrence's own thesis, The Influence of the Crusades on European Military Architecture was recognized as an act of genius when he presented it.

* Liddell Hart considered to be one of the truly eminent military writers of the 20th century compared Lawrence to Napoleon, and used the term Napoleon coined "le coup doeil de genie" which means quick glance of genius. What this describes is that Lawrence had the scarce ability to look at a map (remember he was also a master mapmaker) and immediately know where to attack based on a unique ability in a glance to know intuitively how to attack. This is still studied at West Point, and is very rare in generals throughout history.

* If you want to know the depth of his influence on all who came after him, than consider this. Mao Zedong led a revolution in China based on his writings and theories. Ho Chi Minh forced the United States out of Viet Nam based on Lawrence's theories of guerilla war. I haven't even mentioned Castro and Che in Cuba using Lawrence as a blueprint for winning in Cuba. Lawrence is the original creator of the road side bomb we now see in Iraq and Afghanistan. He knew how to strike light, and disappear into the night. The term turn weakness into strength is his.

* The story of the making of the David Lean movie, Lawrence of Arabia which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, and won 7 is told here in a beautiful fashion. Only Sam Spiegel, the producer at Columbia Pictures could have gotten this movie done. You will learn how the part was first offered to Leslie Howard, Lawrence Olivier, and then Albert Finney, until settling on newcomer Peter O'Toole.

In conclusion, if you love history and the grand expanse of extraordinary people doing extraordinary things then you are going to love this book. Lawrence was Hollywood handsome with a magnetic personality and charisma to match. His influence directly led to the creation of the modern Jordan, and the UAR (United Arab Republic). Iraq and Syria now owe their modern boundaries to Lawrence. Since the 1960's England has opened up its secret historical files on Lawrence. We now know that all the wild stories about Lawrence are true. It actually comes down to this. Lawrence did what he said he did, and even downplayed his own role in the affairs of which we know about.

I promise you that if you begin reading this book, you will not put it down, and you will be transfixed by what a gifted writer like Korda can do with a legendary impactful figure like Lawrence of Arabia. Thank you for reading this review.

Richard C. Stoyeck

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book is Excellent But a Proof Reader is Needed, December 22, 2010

By 

J. Reber "Rumpole67" (D.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia (Kindle Edition)

This a very well writen and interesting book about a facinating man who lived and was a major player during a critical period in our history.

However, there are 1-3 typos on almost every page of the book I have read so far and I'm on chapter 4. Almost all of the typos involve one, two or sometimes three words bunched together to form word-abominations such as:

"himhave" "timewas" "anadventure" "discribinghis" etc.

I guess these errors were introduced when the book was digitized. I also guess that the book was not proof-read after this procedure.

These errors are begining to distract from my reading pleasure. A corrected version would be appreciated.

57 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ninety years have gone by and Lawrence remains bigger than life., November 16, 2010

By 

Gabriel Villada (Miami, Florida United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia (Hardcover)

What a beautifully written biography of Lawrence of Arabia. Michael Korda brings back Lawrence of Arabia to our present time in such a masterful way that the reader feels himself becoming part of the story; a true story that encompasses one of the most important events of the 20th century, the first world war and the partition of the Ottoman Empire, contrary to Lawrence's idea on how the partition should be executed, into the Middle East that we now know. Korda's gift to us is not only his comprehension of events past, which are right on target, but the even flow of his writing that translates his knowledge and comprehension into scenes that are fascinating.