Robert Ryan ~ Empire of Sand

A T.E. Lawrence ( Lawrence of Arabia ) based novel, get sand between your toes. I'm a sucker for the escapades of Lawrence and his dessert adventures and this book does not let me ( or anyone else) down on that count. This is an 'Old School' adventure novel, set in the shifting sands of the Middle East during World War 1. The writing is both fluid and entertaining, mixing fiction with known fact. All in all and good and entertaining read.

Synopsis
This isa novelabout howLawrenceof Arabia honed hisexpertise and cultural understanding to become one of the mostpivotal figures in the Arab revoltof World War One. 1915: While the war in Europe escalates, a young intelligence officer named Thomas Edward Lawrence is in Cairo, awaiting his chance for action. His superiors, however, have consigned him to the Map Room at GCHQ. But theres more to Lieutenant Lawrence than meets the eye. A man of immense energy, he runs a network of agents across the Levant. Lawrence is convinced that an Arab revolt is the only way to remove the Ottoman presence, and leave a free self-governed Arabia. Soon, alarming reports reach him of trouble in Persia, orchestrated by infamous German agent Wilhelm Wassmuss. Intent on taking down Wassmuss and, at the same time, unlocking the secret of his success, Lawrence assembles a small group and travels to Persia. Little does he know that his actions will bring about a resolution that might just save the lives of millions of men in the trenches of Europe.