The story begins with Lawrence's death in a motorcycle accident in London aged just 47, and then uses flashbacks to recount his adventures in the Arabian desert and how he came to be such a celebrated figure. As a young intelligence officer in Cairo in 1916 he was given leave to investigate the progress of the Arab revolt against the Turks during World War One. In the desert he organises a guerilla army and for two years leads the Arabs in harassing the Turks. He then sought out anonymity under an assumed name amongst the Arabs as a common soldier.