"John Harte's book, The Passionate Spies , is important, shedding light on British conspiracy and agents who shaped the Middle East. It focuses on the careers and contributions of three individuals: Gertrude Bell, St. John Philby, and TE Lawrence--better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Skeptics will argue that they have been studied in the past. But never in one book, however, and not with the hindsight of one hundred years, packaged in a gripping manner that will appeal to twenty-first century readers." --Sami Moubayed, Steel & Silk; founding chairman of the Damascus History Foundation "The Passionate Spies by John Harte is an extraordinary and thrilling read about three agents in Britain's secret service, who organized and led the 'Arab Revolt' in 1917, that gave independence to new Arab-speaking nations in the Middle East and founded oil-rich Saudi Arabia. The colorful characters of spymaster Gertrude Bell (the first female officer in the British army), TE Lawrence, the legendary "Lawence of Arabia," and the astute traitor St. John Philby (father of the notorious KGB double-spy Kim Phiby) are all so dynamic that their heroics are hard to believe.

Yet. They are nevertheless true and soundly researched by a perceptive author who depicts them for us in stylish prose. The Passionate Spies is filled with such thrilling twists, turns, surprises, and amazing characters that I found it hard to put down." - Steve Harris, America's Secret History.