The Waking Dream of T. E. Lawrence Essays on His Life, Literature, and Legacy

Since the end of the First World War, the legend of "Lawrence of Arabia" has enjoyed a place in the popular imagination of the West. Behind the legend, however, is a man, Thomas Edward Lawrence, whose life and art reflect the modern consciousness and the war that indelibly marked it. This volume addresses what has been overlooked by the legend and illuminates the legacy of T. E. Lawrence's presence in the 20th century. Contributors explore Lawrence's relation to other major writers, the colonial and postcolonial implications of his link with Arabia, his sexuality, and his status as cultural icon.

Charles M. Stang was the 1997/98 Annenberg Fellow at Eton College, where he taught American Studies. He currently lives in Cairo.