The Waters of Babylon: A Novel of Lawrence After Arabia

T. E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) easily qualifies as one of the more fascinating and controversial military figures in Britain's long history of idiosyncratic soldiers. A junior officer in military intelligence, Lawrence was posted as an advisor to Arab troops fighting to free their lands from Turkish rule as part of World War I. To the surprise of all who encountered the short, shy Englishman with the high squeaky voice, Lawrence became an outstanding strategist. He also campaigned tirelessly for Arab nationalist causes. Victorious in war, he was unsuccessful in securing Arab rights in the face of Franco-British political actions. Frustrated, he spent the rest of his life as an enlisted man under several pseudonyms in the Army and the Royal Air Force. He died in a motorcycle accident in 1935. David Stevens provides a window into the tortured consciousness of the postwar Lawrence-a man haunted by his failure to confront his homosexuality, his inability to atone for his political failures on behalf of Arab causes, and his impotence in overcoming his illegitimacy and difficult childhood. His agony is told through his letters and the narratives of a diverse group of friends and admirers. Stevens is a gifted writer (Breaker Morant and Merlin are on his resume) and he offers a sensitive and sympathetic account of this haunted and unhappy figure. His subject will never be an easy man to define but Stevens has done as fine a job as one could hope for such a complex and private person. Incomplete portrayals of two personalities important to the story (King Feisal and Lawrence's mother) stand out when contrasted with Stevens's well-rounded descriptions of other major, and even most minor, characters. As a novelist, Stevens succeeds where most biographers have failed. Beautifully written, and an interesting story to boot. John R. Vallely, for the Historical Novels Review

This is a story thats hard to put down and so elegantly written, you will feel you are living the life of T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia). It focuses on his life after Arabia, but also tells about his troubled childhood and his upbringing by a religiously fanatical,unforgiving mother. She is the cause of much of Lawrence's later sexual frustrations and inhibitions. He tries to live his life as an ordinary airman in the RAF because he is tired of the legend that he has become. This proves to be very hard to do for no one can forget who he is. Lawrence's relationships with Charlotte (a life-long friend) and Slaney, a bunkmate who he has a love/hate relationship with, are probably the best written chapters in the book. However, his fantasy love relationship with a young peasant man, is of the greatest interest. He has several unacknowledged longings for other men, but Dahoum proved to be the exception, and his life obsession.This is a book that surely I will read more than once. A book to be enjoyed over and over. Steven's writing is superb and captivating. An afterwood is included which answers many questions. I look forward to Steven's next adventure.

While the psycho-sexual kinks of Lawrence of Arabia may be a startling revelation to those who know him primarily through the David Lean epic (and who were oblivious to that film's subtle sub-text) this is nevertheless an extremely well-written novel that fills in the blanks of Lawrence's inner life with authority and empathy, making for a highly credible, involving read in the tradition of Gore Vidal's historical series. The chapters involving Charlotte Shaw and her interviews with Lawrence's mother and King Feisal are exceptional. A unique and controversial take on Lawrence that is sure to unhinge purists but is well worth their temporary apoplexy.