Lawrence Yardley Michael (3 results)

Hardback, approx 9.25 x 6.25 inches. In black cloth covers with gilt to spine. With glossy illustrated dustwrapper. In very good condition with very good dustwrapper (dw; some minor rubbing to edges, some slight fading to spine. Not price clipped). Cloth clean. Some tanning to pages. Some loose newspaper cuttings, Else a very clean and tight copy. 267pp. Illustrated with B&W photo plates and maps. The author looks at how Lawrence?s reputation grew and was influenced by the media of the time. ?He became one of the first victims of the modern media machine.?.

London: Harrap, (1985). 8vo. Orig. cloth. Dustjacket. (268pp.). with map, and num. illusts. Fine.

First edition, first impression, inscribed by the author on the title page "From one researcher to another, Michael Yardley, 19th May 1985, Moreton" and by Arthur Russell, one of Lawrence's pallbearers, on the front free endpaper "A. Russell, 50th anniversary 19.5.85". This is a meticulous biography published on the 50th anniversary of Lawrence's death. Arthur Russell and Lawrence met in 1923 when they both joined the Tank Corps and shared a barracks hut. The two remained close friends until Lawrence died, with Russell known as the Patrochlus to Lawrence's Achilles. Fittingly, when Russell donated the bench that sits next to Lawrence's grave, he had it inscribed with the name "Patrochlus". Russell acted as one of the pallbearers at Lawrence's funeral, representing his time in the Tank Corps (mentioned in this book on page 221). The other pallbearers were also chosen to represent different aspects of Lawrence's life: Stuart Newcombe (Arabia), Pat Knowles (Cloud's Hill), Eric Kennington (art), and Corporal Bradbury (RAF). Both inscriptions date from 19 May 1985 at St Nicholas' Church, Moreton (the location of Lawrence's grave). This was the 50th anniversary of Lawrence's death, marked by a service attended by 400 people. Backing into the Limelight provides a look into both the private and public life of Lawrence, with a particular focus on his portrayal in the media. Yarley's interest in Lawrence was piqued when he was posted to Bovington, Dorset, in 1980 as an army officer, the place where Lawrence first enlisted in the Tank Corps and where he eventually died. Capitalizing on his proximity to this location to begin his research, he includes details from firsthand interviews with people related to Lawrence, as well as a wealth of never-before-seen letters, diaries, and reports. There is a contemporary inscription underneath Russell's, "Private Russell was one of T. E. Shaw's Pall Bearers for his funeral. Signed at Moreton on 50th Anniversary of T. E's death. N.A.B.". It is likely that this was written on the day of the anniversary service, although the identity of N.A.B. is unknown to us. O'Brien E398. Paul Edmonds, "Memory of a man of mystery", Daily Post (3 a.m. ed.), 20 May 1985. Octavo. With 32 plates, maps in text. Original black boards, spine lettered in gilt. With pictorial dust jacket. Spine head and foot slightly bumped, contents fresh; dust jacket unclipped, spine head and foot slightly bumped, some foxing to flaps: a near-fine copy in very good dust jacket.