Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T. E. Lawrence

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Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography of T. E. Lawrence is a 1989 book by Jeremy Wilson. It is an in-depth, authorized study of T. E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, who helped lead the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. The book was published in the United Kingdom by William Heinemann and in the United States by Atheneum, with the hardcover edition totaling about 1,188 pages.

Wilson uses extensive sources to recount Lawrence’s life, his personality, and his wartime actions, offering a comprehensive portrait of the man behind the legend. The reception was mixed. The Toronto Star’s Michael Coren called the biography unremarkable, while The New York Times later named it one of the best books of 1990. Nigel Nicolson, writing for The New York Times, argued that the biography will endure beside Seven Pillars of Wisdom and that any future book on Lawrence will be a commentary on Wilson’s work.

Overall, Lawrence of Arabia: The Authorised Biography is regarded as a major, enduring biography of a famous and controversial figure.