Empire of SandAvailable in store today
by Robert Ryan
Book of the Month: October 2008
A letter from the author
Dear Reader,
Inevitably in dealing with a life as rich and complex as T. E. Lawrence’s, there was much I had to leave out of Empire of Sand. I welcome this chance to add more background material to this exclusive edition and perhaps illuminate those darker corners of his life.
First I have chosen to look at the genesis of Lawrence on film, as, for many people, David Lean’s movie, Lawrence of Arabia, still represents the dominant image of Lawrence. I have also pointed out in the second and third sections some of the places that you can visit to get a sense of the man in life and death. It also includes a little more speculation on how he died. The fourth element, the Lawrence of Arabia timeline, ties together many of the events touched on in the novel, from his birth in North Wales to his death in Dorset, with all manner of drama in between. Finally, for those who want to know more, I offer a selection of the best books on T. E. Lawrence.
I hope you enjoy this extra material, and thanks to ASDA and Headline for allowing me the opportunity to expand Empire of Sand.
Robert Ryan, London
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