T E Lawrence: An Unusual Genius

T E Lawrence was described by one of his key biographers, as 'An Unusual Genius'. This talk will explore how these two words can be applied to Lawrence through his early life, which prepared him for his entry into the First World War to skilfully lead the Arabs against the Ottomans in the Middle East. The war years and post war peace talks will be described together with a comparison to the Western Front and other theatres of war.

The hero and the legend ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ was created, but he became disillusioned and suffered much trauma after the war years. His legacy will also be explored and why he still holds an importance today.

Phil Neale worked in the pharmaceutical industry for most of his working life, before retirement. He now has a casual retirement job with the University of Cambridge. He developed a passing interest in Lawrence of Arabia, whilst at school and like most people was attracted further to his fascinating character through David Lean’s film. The National Portrait Gallery exhibition in 1988 was the real stimulus for a much closer interest in T E Lawrence. Through study of the many texts and letters together with his travels in the Middle East, and the UK, that interest has continued to grow and develop. Phil joined the T E Lawrence Society Committee as Treasurer, in 2008, and was made Chairman in 2012. Having served as Chairman for 10 years (longest serving Society chairman), he stood down in 2022, to become Vice-Chairman and Newsletter Editor. He has presented on three occasions at the Society Symposium and also presented papers on different aspects of Lawrence, to many other different audiences.