Faulkner spent ten years of field research on this book. He rewrites the history of Lawrence's legendary campaigns in the context of the Arab Revolt. He explores the intersections between the Ottomans, Bedouin tribes, Arab nationalism and Western ambitions. He assesses the relative weight of conventional operations in Palestine and irregular warfare in Syria. The book is thus a study of the historic roots of today's divided and war torn Middle East. This book came into the Collection within weeks of Suleiman Mousa's reassessment of Lawrence (q.v.): how much of a legend is the Lawrence Legend?