T.E. Lawrence, "Lawrence of Arabia," must have been a remarkable man. Though physically slight, he had a commanding presence. He was a great leader of men, all action in the field, but intellectual and scholarly as well.

In 1914 the Turks still ruled Arabia. Lawrence had wandered the Mideast for years, studying archeology and ancient fortifications. He was friendly with the Arabs, ideally suited to bring them into play against their overlords when Turkey sided with Germany in WW I. His success was publicized by Lowell Thomas and he became a legend.

He and Robert Graves were drawn together by their experience in the war and by their interest in literature and antiquity. It was natural that Lawrence would ask Graves to be his biographer.