Setting The Desert On Fire (1916-18 - T.E. Lawrence & The British Commonwealth's Secret War In Arabia)

It is 1916. 

The Allies are struggling in the Great War.

The debacle of Gallipoli is still being felt.

The Ottoman Sultan calls for a pan-Islamic jihad against all non-Muslims except Germans. 

But Sharif Husein, ruler of the holy city of Mecca, is smarting under Turkish rule, fomenting Arab nationalism and lobbying the British to support him. 

It seems to the British a good idea secretly to encourage an Arab revolt. 

Setting the Desert on Fire is a masterly account of this key moment made legendary by the activities of T.E. Lawrence, but here filled with a wide range of characters including the British Prime Minister Lloyd George, whose desire to have nearby Australian Light Horse Forces capture the 'Holy City' of 'Jerusalem by Christmas' had consequences that still reverberate down from then to this very day.

James Barr graduated from Oxford with a first in Modern History, went on to write leaders for the Daily Telegraph and now works in the City.

Out Of Print only available Digitally.

Originally published 2007 & released digitally 2011.