The Arab Revolt of 1916-18 was one of the most dramatic events of World War I. It resulted in the birth of the modern Middle East and also created one of the most enduring myths of the war: the story of Lawrence of Arabia. This book examines the revolt, describing and analyzing the background and events of the uprising. Breaking the process into several broad phases, the author examines the initial capture of coastal towns like Jeddah, followed by the raids on the Hijaz Railway, the seizure of Aqaba and the northward push of the Arab Army at Gaza, Jerusalem, Megiddo and Damascas.

Origins of the campaign -- Chronology -- Opposing commanders: Arab commanders ; Allied commanders ; Ottoman commanders -- Opposing Armies : The Arab Army ; The Ottoman Army ; Orders of battle -- Opposing plans: The Arab plan ; The British plan ; The Ottoman plan ; The political plan -- The Arab Revolt: The outbreak of the Arab Revolt, June 1916 ; The capture of the coastal towns and the arrival of aid from the Allies ; The capture of Wejh, December-January 1917 ; The railway campaign, 1917 ; Aqaba, July 1917 ; July-November 1917 ; The final campaign, Palestine and Syria, December 1917 to October 1918 -- The legacy of the Arab Revolt: The Hejaz ; Syria ; Iraq ; Palestine and Jordan ; The Lawrence legend -- The battlefield today.