“History is often the tale of small moments–chance encounters or casual decisions or sheer coincidence–that seem of little consequence at the time, but somehow fuse with other small moments to produce something momentous”

Lawrence in Arabia: War, Deceit, Imperial Folly, and the Making of the Modern Middle East is a fascinating look at foreign affairs, political maneuverings and Middle Eastern warfare during World War I. The novel follows the remarkable rise of T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) and introduces readers to other key historical figures. While I found some portions of the book more interesting than others, I was impressed with the vast amount of events covered. There is a lot of research put into this book and it’s amazing how author Scott Anderson keeps all the storylines clear and chronological. Anderson writes with great momentum, often hinting of things to come. Lawrence in Arabia will provide readers with a great education and unique perspective regarding the Middle East. 

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  3 mild obscenities; 1 derogatory name; 1 anatomical term. 

Violence/Gore:  Several verbal threats; countless second hand reports of violence involving war, beatings, physical deportations and assassination; several accounts of violence regarding battle; property is destroyed in bombings; numerous non-detailed scenes of violent death due to battle, suicide, physical fighting and a snake bite; several page-long scenes of blood and gore; several page-long scenes of intense violence, including battles and a torture scene.

Sex/Nudity:  A few sexual references and reports of sexual activity; a brief scene of rape with few details; a page-long discussion regarding whether or not said rape actually occurred. 

Mature Subject Matter:

War, death, genocide, torture, religious prejudice, class inequality, rape, homosexuality, greed.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Soldiers are reported to drink; mention of “drinking sessions”.