This book is quite unique! Rather than aloofly discussing the seeds of the Arab - Israeli conflict, the author sets out to write biographies of two major proponents from opposite sides whose lives set the wheels in motion, or, at least, advanced the wheels that had already been set in motion. Brilliant approach. Excellent scholarship. For anyone interested in the history of the AI conflict and biographies, this is outstanding! I'd buy it again and read it again, new or used. It was worthwhile! A-.

Through careful research and telling, Florence tracks T. E. Lawrence as he seeks to help the Arabs (whom he has romanticized since childhood) help the British in WWI. Similarly, he tracks Aaron Aaronsohn, who bravely and methodically parleys his agricultural research station's observation capability into war intelligence for the British. Both men see war participation as a stragegy to advance their skeptical consitituencies in the aftermath of war. Both have to work to get the ear of the British bureaucracy.

One of Florence's theses is that in the work of Lawrence and Aaronsohn we can see the beginnings of the Arab Israeli conflict. The other is that while Lawrence is better known, Aaronson's work is more lasting.

I was particularly drawn to the childhoods of the two men. Lawrence's was a 99% guarantee that he'd be eccentric. Aaronsohn's brought to life the early days of Israeli settlers, how they came to the Middle East and how they contended with both European patrons and Ottoman overseers. There are many well written episodes, besides those of the childhoods these include tense moments in spying, Sarah Aaronsohn's ultimate sacrifice and descriptions of some of the Arab operations.

The text devoted to Lawrence's loss of his manuscript and Aaronsohn's death is short in relation to their respective impact, but both are followed by a very good analysis of the impact of the men's lives on the future.

Through careful research and telling, Florence tracks T. E. Lawrence as he seeks to help the Arabs (whom he has romanticized since childhood) help the British in WWI. Similarly, he tracks Aaron Aaronsohn, who bravely and methodically parleys his agricultural research station's observation capability into war intelligence for the British. Both men see war participation as a stragegy to advance their skeptical consitituencies in the aftermath of war. Both have to work to get the ear of the British bureaucracy.

One of Florence's theses is that in their work we can see the beginnings of the Arab Israeli conflict. The other is that while Lawrence is better known, Aaronson's work is more lasting.

I was particularly drawn to the childhoods of these two men. Lawrence's was a 99% guarantee that he'd be eccentric. Aaronsohn's brought to life the early days of Israeli settlers, how they came to the Middle East and how they contended with both European patrons and Ottoman overseers. There are many well written episodes, particularly those of the childhoods, tense moments is spying and Sarah Aaronsohn's ultimate sacrifice.

Descriptions of Lawrence's loss of his manuscript and Aaronsohn's death are short in relation to their impact, but they are followed by a very good analysis of the impact of the men's lives on the future redeems it.

Allow me to begin with a summary and then indulge me a bit more time to discuss Lawrence. This volume is a wonderful read and I much enjoy dual biographies that develop a time and place as well as intersect events. Florence's book is most entertaining and enlightening with the emphasis placed mainly on the story of Aaron Aaronsohn and his sister Sarah. Lawrence (yes, Lawrence of Arabia) is somewhat short changed and summarized to quickly. I think Ronald Florence's objective was to market the hook to those who have interest in Lawrence literature only to introduce us to the amazing Aaronsohn family. Their support for Zionism through science and spying on behalf of the British against the Turks in WWI is simply an incredible story. I very highly recommend the book. Now let me digress for a while to say that I am a collector of T.E. Lawrence literature and purchased this book as part of that collection. My recommendation to those who want to explore Lawrence more deeply is to read two other great biographies. The first won the Pulitzer price and is A PRINCE OF OUR DISORDER, THE LIFE OF T E LAWRENCE by John E. Mack (1976) and the second by Jeremy Wilson, LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, THE AUTHORIZED BIOGRAPHY OF T E LAWRENCE. I noted that Ronald Florence referenced that Jeremy Wilson reviewed his text and made comments. Also, of note is that Jeremy Wilson and his wife Nicole own a private publishing house in England called Castle Hill Press. They have a web page and have printed several limited editions of Lawrence books, most notably the complete 1922 text of SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM which Florence mentions is his source reference. I recommend that you visit their web site and also pick up these two other volumes to really cover Lawrence in great detail. But a good place to begin is with Ronald Florences creative and well written LAWRENCE AND AARONSHOHN. (I notice that Amazon.com has this title now at bargin price which is even all the more reason to pick it up.)

All too often nonfiction authors spin a captivating tale based on poorly researched nonsense, relying on secondary sources with an occasional dip into a primary source composed in the only language of which the author has full command. Ronald Florence is not such an author. He is a skilled historian with a talent for painting lush portrayals of great personalities while capturing fine details that surprise the reader. In "Lawrence and Aaronsohn," one of our heroes is a young and romantic scholar-soldier whose over-confidence drives him across the desert to victory in Damascus and personal suffering and humiliation in Deraa. The other is an ornery genius who, anxious over the fate of the starving Jews at the hands of the Turks, abandons science for espionage opening the doors of the Middle East to Great Britain while sealing the fate of his sister Sarah. Florence's narrative will not only entertain you but may also offer you some insight into the seeds of the Arab-Israeli conflict.