Young Lawrence

Anthony Sattin knows a good story when he sees one. While most of Lawrence's biographers focus heavily on the war period, Sattin has grasped the importance of the years Lawrence spent in the Middle East beforehand, essential preparation for what followed. He has filled the ominous political background that Lawrence knew, but hardly mentioned in his letters home. As a travel writer enlarging on the writings of a forerunner, Sattin also often enriches Lawrence's account. I thoroughly enjoyed the result -- Jeremy Wilson, authorised Lawrence biographer Sattin makes a superb job of reconstructing that lost record of Lawrence's life before he became a war hero . . . Sattin is excellent on the troubled history of the region, and the 'what ifs' are enough to make your heart break * Independent * Lawrence's youthful enthusiasms, aspirations and loves are brilliantly reconstructed in Sattin's compelling and sympathetic book * TLS * [Anthony Sattin] spent more than twenty years travelling in the Middle East and his own passion for the place and people illuminates his writing. It's as if he knew Lawrence personally * Toronto Star * A quirky but rigorous biographical study * The Economist * Sattin's own travel writing experience, lends this detailed biography of Lawrence's early years an immediacy, pace and sense of place that is as enjoyable as it is revelatory, as telling about Lawrence's personal relationship and motivations as it is about Middle Eastern history * Traveller * It's fascinating to see how much of Lawrence's later, singular personality is evident in his early life * BBC History * This highly readable book never lacks for the big story but it also does not let that history lose the hero * New York Journal of Books * A masterful account of the beginnings of a unique man * Kirkus Reviews * Anthony Sattin, an Arabophile himself, is the perfect writer to bring us Lawrence's early life . . . a gripping, well researched book, adding an insightful portrait of young Lawrence before his more famous achievements * Compass Magazine * Sattin somehow manages to balance a lively, novelistic approach with genuine biographical inquiry among hundreds if not thousands of sources . . . a serious but very readable book which would make a great Christmas present * Conde Nast Traveller * A valuable insight into a fascinating young man before he disappeared into legend * Scotsman * Sattin has written a compelling account of a young man learning to live according to his dreams * Observer * One of the best biographies to read in October * Independent * In Young Lawrence, Anthony Sattin has struck gold . . . balancing a lively, novelistic approach with genuine biographical inquiry in a very readable book * Giles Foden, Conde Nast Traveller * An enjoyable book and a welcome addition to the literature on Lawrence * The Spectator * An intelligent and readable addition to the existing corpus of biographical works about Lawrence * Andrew Lycett, Literary Review * Through meticulous research and crackling prose, Sattin charts the youthful passions and influences - and not a few family and personal secrets - that helped create the future Lawrence of Arabia, and done so in an account so well-written that is hard to put down. An absolutely indispensable read for anyone hoping to understand the evolution of one of the most beguiling and romantic figures of the modern age * Scott Anderson * Sattin's unique portrait reveals an itinerant scholar adventurously immersing himself in the history, peoples, and landscapes of the Near East, the chrysalis of the brilliant figure soon to emerge: Lawrence of Arabia * Steve Kemper, author of A Labyrinth of Kingdoms * I enjoyed Young Lawrence very much . . . while Lawrence is not a boy in Anthony Sattin's splendid book he clearly prefigures Lawrence of Arabia - a conscious striving towards becoming a hero, and a bold exploration not only of the Middle East, but of himself * Michael Korda, author of Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia *