From time to time, I have written about iconic and pioneering women in relative recent history, well recent by British standards 🙂 I also sometimes write about the Middle-East which is actually the one area of life that I can actually claim to have some academic expertise. So I have finally taken the opportunity to… Continue reading Gertrude Bell – The Ketrun – Desert Queen
Tag: Lawrence of Arabia
15 of the best war films of all time.
It’s only a week now until the release of my most anticipated film of the year, Dunkirk. Despite being pivotal to the entire WW2, the brave and often selfless actions of the British Expeditionary Force and allied French and Belgian troops is often forgotten outside these shores. A matter that will be surely changed with… Continue reading 15 of the best war films of all time.
WW1 Iraq & The Desert Campaigns
Last week I wrote on how it was the 100th anniversary of the death of my Great Grandfather in Iraq in WW1. In fact just last night I found a bookmark from my Great Grandmother who must have had it made long ago to remember her husband. So much of the history of The Great… Continue reading WW1 Iraq & The Desert Campaigns
Charles Wells – The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo
Charles “Monte Carlo” Wells was the only son amongst 3 sibling daughters and was born into a respectable family in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire before his family moved to Marseille in France. Charles Wells certainly had an interesting life and not always in a good way. He worked in a sugar beet factory in the Ukraine and… Continue reading Charles Wells – The Man Who Broke The Bank At Monte Carlo
Lest We Forget: A Concise Companion to the First World War (my new book)
I know what you’re thinking. Stephen can’t be releasing another book. I know, I know. I’m sorry. Long-time readers will know that I spend my summers giving guided tours and during winter I spend most of my time writing and it just so happens that it takes a certain amount of time for books to… Continue reading Lest We Forget: A Concise Companion to the First World War (my new book)
In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Hopefully you will have read the previous post about the classic epic movie, Lawrence of Arabia, it’s not entirely necessary but it sets this post in perspective. I came to Lawrence through the film and after watching it, you do get a good idea of what he must have been like. Lawrence was also a… Continue reading In the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia
Lawrence of Arabia
This is the first section of a two part article about T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. This first part will be about the better known side of Lawrence and especially the film whilst the second part will be a more personal look at Lawrence and my journey in his footsteps. You can… Continue reading Lawrence of Arabia
Qasr Amr – pleasure palace of the Caliphs
Qasr Amr is located on the desert road to Azraq and only a short distance from Iraq. It is possibly the highlight of the chain of desert castles built in eastern Jordan. It was built by Caliph Walid I around 715AD. As the name suggests it was originally part of a castle but now all… Continue reading Qasr Amr – pleasure palace of the Caliphs
Stephen Liddell 