Lawrence of Arabia and American Culture: The Making of a Transatlantic Legend

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Departing from prior scholarship on T.E. Lawrence, this work examines the extent of Anglo-American cultural interplay and the popular culture machinery involved in the manufacture of the Lawrence of Arabia legend. Although not recognized as such, the Lawrence legend was as much an American product as a British one. American journalist Lowell Thomas first publicised the story through war travelogues given in New York City, which soon found their way to England. The legend was perpetuated by American literary interest in Lawrence and then by a Hollywood film. By the 1960s, the Lawrence of Arabia story had become a small commercial industry.

Reviews

Hodson justly points out that Lawrence's legend, both in its popular and its elite forms, is as much an American as a British creation. The 'ultimate commercial entertainment of its time' in its use of adult-education lecture, vaudeville, film and photographs, Lowell Thomas's romantic presentation of Lawrence was eventually seen by millions....Recommended.-Choice
This thought-provoking study is exceedingly well researched...Hodson, in this insightful, interesting, and well-written study, demonstrates convincingly and conclusively that 'the popular manifestation of the Lawrence of Arabia legend owes much to its American beginnings and propagation'.-British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies
"This thought-provoking study is exceedingly well researched...Hodson, in this insightful, interesting, and well-written study, demonstrates convincingly and conclusively that 'the popular manifestation of the Lawrence of Arabia legend owes much to its American beginnings and propagation'."-British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies
"Hodson justly points out that Lawrence's legend, both in its popular and its elite forms, is as much an American as a British creation. The 'ultimate commercial entertainment of its time' in its use of adult-education lecture, vaudeville, film and photographs, Lowell Thomas's romantic presentation of Lawrence was eventually seen by millions....Recommended."-Choice

Author Bio

JOEL C. HODSON is Visiting Professor of American Studies at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan. He has been editor of American Studies International and a Fulbright lecturer in Turkey. He is author of United States History Since 1945 (1993) and numerous journal articles.