Mention T. E. Lawrence to anyone and you're sure to evoke a response. To some the name conjures up the image of a real life Rudolf Valentino with flowing robes, awash in the romantic imagery of the vaguely exotic. For some he was the paradigm of the British Empire at its height -- smug, self-assured and wonderfully curious. To others he was a self-flagellating, self-aggrandizing publicity hound with an uncanny, if not unnatural, ability to be in the right place at the right time. Arabs are no less divided in their assessment. For many he was "El Laurens" a friend and ally in their struggle to achieve independence, first from the Turks, then the Europeans. To just as many he was the "Great Betrayer" who led Arabs to their deaths in the name of self-rule while fully intending to replace their Turkish masters with British ones. Regardless of the opinion, there is little doubt that T. E. Lawrence, friend or fiend, was a remarkable individual. Lawrence's amazingly full, albeit short, life and his Renaissance-like absorption with everything around him are brilliantly handled in TE Notes. TEN is one of those specialist newsletters that have sprung up since computers put publishing and editing within the reach of everyone. Unlike most, it deserves high praise for content and quality, thanks in a large part to the skilled editing of Denis McDonnell and Suellen Miller. TEN, which began publishing in 1989, provides Lawrence fans and aficionados with a smorgasbord of information about their favorite personality and the world in which he moved. The newsletter "contains news, book reviews, articles on all aspect of TE's life and everything that's going on in the Lawrencian world," explains McDonnell. Some of TEN's content is clearly for the diehard Lawrence fan, who like some Trekkies, cannot seem to distinguish between being a fan and being a fanatic. Most issues are sprinkled (though not too heavily) with reader contributed TE Sightings (mentions of Lawrence in written or other media) and information of forthcoming specialty books. Another favorite topic for the Lawrencophiles are endless discussions of David Lean's masterpiece Lawrence of Arabia. But make no mistake, TEN, like Lawrence himself, is not one dimensional. Nor is it overdone with hero worship. Its pages contain a wealth of often overlooked information, frequently forgotten facts and a plethora of original research. Recent issues have included detailed descriptions of the Rolls Royce Armored Car, the forerunner to the tank and the critical weapon in the sands of Arabia through the 1950's. Another article details the Aqaba campaign and concludes that Lawrence's role was not only overstated, but deliberately so. TEN is a necessary addition to the subscription list of anyone with an interest in the Middle East, the Arab Revolt or the vital role the Lawrence and the region played in World War I. T. E. NOTES published by Denis McDonnell; 653 Park Street; Honesdale, PA 18431-1421; USA. Tel.: 717-253-6706; FAX: 717-253-6786; E-mail: dmd@postoffice.ptd.net Subscriptions are: US $20.00 for North America, and $25.00 for the rest of the world including the Middle East. McDonnell accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. TEN's editors personally guarantee "your satisfaction or the unused portion of your subscription will be cheerfully refunded." Back to Cry Havoc #14 Table of Contents Back to Cry Havoc List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1996 by David W. Tschanz. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com