Episode · Behind the Bastards · 2024-11-12
Books mentioned on Part One: How Lawrence of Arabia Invented Modern War
Robert tells Margaret Killjoy the whole story of Lawrence of Arabia, a British imperialist, hopeless romantic and asexual icon who invented the concept of modern insurgent war. Through it all we ask: was he a bastard?
Robert Evans recommended The young T.E. Lawrence by Anthony Sattin, and discussed Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T. E. Lawrence and Setting the Desert on Fire by James Barr.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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Seven Pillars of Wisdom
Seven Pillars of Wisdom by T.
Discussed“JP gestured towards the book saying my fighting gospel is TE Lawrence's Seven Pillars of wisdom I am never without it”
Where to get it
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The young T.E. Lawrence
The Young T.E.
Recommended“Um, in the wonderful book The Young T.E. Lawrence, biographer Anthony Satin writes that Lawrence and his four brothers never, quote, 'had an unhappy or even an unsettled life.'”
Where to get it
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Setting the Desert on Fire
Why people recommend it: Setting the Desert on Fire by James Barr is a historical account detailing the British involvement in the Middle East during the First World War and the complex legacy of T.
Discussed“I want to quote now from a book called Setting the Desert on Fire by James Barr. At the Times Valette, Cho believed that the Sultan's power as Khalif gave him a disturbing and disruptive political influence worldwide.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
Passing Seven Pillars of Wisdom
“even while Lawrence was busy writing of his adventures in Seven Pillars of Islam”