Middle Eastern history Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review“One of the best informed and non-partisan accounts of the Syrian tragedy yet published.”—Patrick Cockburn, Independent"Provides genuinely valuable insight into the dynamics of a tragedy that will undoubtedly remain at the centre of the world’s attention for many years to come."—Daniel Falkiner, LSE Review of Books"This is the best work to date that focuses on the regional and international dimensions of the Syrian conflict. Christopher Phillips' research is meticulous, with both depth and breadth in large part gleaned from his interviews with top officials and representatives from most of the stakeholder states and groups in the war. A must-read for anyone who wants to better understand the multidimensional complexities of the conflict."—David Lesch, author of Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad"Syria's horrific civil war has been profoundly shaped by the competitive interventions and proxy wars by external powers. The Battle for Syria offers a brilliant, essential account of the international dimension of Syria's descent from uprising into insurgency and brutal state violence. This sober and judicious book will become a standard text for those seeking to understand Syria's tragedy."—Marc Lynch, author of The New Arab Wars: Anarchy and Uprising in the Middle East

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Book SynopsisA lively reimagining of how the distant medieval world of war functioned, drawing on the objects used and made by crusadersTrade Review“Tyerman is a judicious and scholarly guide and readers will feel that they are drinking the distillation of a lifetime’s work on its subject”—James Barr, The Times “Tyerman's new book offers a pleasing entry point. With 500 pages of detailed text and an array of images of art and artefacts, it combines the weight of an in-depth history with the flavouring of a visual history to help bring the subject to life.”—History Revealed (Book of the Month) “The World of the Crusades has a mass of new insights, many little-known anecdotes and a fresh approach to the subject” —Jonathan Sumption, Spectator “Tyerman's narrative is rich and detailed, interspersed with the author's characteristically mordant humour”—Helen J. Nicholson, Times Literary Supplement “This book succeeds magnificently in giving a clear picture of the Crusades as a whole, providing, at the same time, much fascinating detail” —Alan Borg, Church Times “Excellently written and incredibly comprehensive. It is clear from the structure and careful pace of the book that Tyerman is an expert on the crusades—he guides the reader skilfully through the many complicating aspects of the topic without ever letting them become confusing…This book has set a new bar for works on the crusades and, without doubt, it is a high one.”—Flora Guijt, Parergon (Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies)

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Book SynopsisA profusely illustrated historical survey of a fascinating region, now available in a new format.Trade Review'Expert text, generous design and shrewdly arranged pictures add up to the kind of accessibly erudite package that Thames & Hudson does so peerlessly' - Independent'Sumptuously produced … a wonderful and enjoyable home reference and study aid … Thames & Hudson render a real service to the general public' - Historical Association'A well-illustrated, informed introduction served in bite-size chunks' - Arab Weekly'Extraordinarily informative … a must-read' - Timeless TravelsTable of ContentsIntroduction the Middle East • The Fertile Crescent: Birthplace of Agriculture • Mesopotamia: The Cradle of Civilization • Power Struggles: Kingdoms at War • Masters of the Known World: The Age of Empires • Under Occupation: Hellenistic and Roman Conquerors • Search for Origins: The Rediscovery of the Middle East

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Middle East’s present and who might be hopeful for the region’s future." * Middle East Journal *"Seeking to counter contemporary perceptions of the Middle East as a region riven by sectarian strife, Makdisi examines the ‘culture of coexistence’ which he believes prevailed in the Ottoman Empire and in the post-Ottoman Arab world, despite its religious diversity." * Survival: Global Politics and Strategy *"An outstanding study with insight about the agency of Arab intellectuals, thinkers and people at large who, despite twentieth-century local and global violence, persist in struggling for a better world. This is a must- read for all scholars and students of Middle East and cultural studies." * Arab Studies Quarterly *"A hugely important corrective to widespread stereotypes about relations between Muslims, Christians and Jews before Israel's creation." * Peter Beinart *"Beyond the excellent historical work in which Makdisi engages, his profound rewriting of narratives of sectarianism and coexistence will have a great impact on readers’ understanding of the modern Middle East. . . . Offers hope for an existence that does not distinguish between Muslim and non-Muslim or Jew and non-Jew but aims to humanize those who have been seen as inferior." * Islam and Christian–Muslim Relations *"One of the salient contributions of the Age of Coexistence is how Makdisi writes a history that the existing scholarship has either taken for granted or failed to critically examine. . . . Indispensable reading for graduate students entering the field of Middle Eastern history." * Bustan: The Middle East Book Review *"This is clearly an essential book. . . . There are many lessons to learn from this study with regard to how regions and their peoples, their ethno-religious identities, and their politics are approached, investigated, and narrated." * Journal of Historical Geography *"What Makdisi has accomplished here is truly impressive. . . .It is my hope that as it spreads in classrooms and in public discourse, The Age of Coexistence will serve the final blow to Western-based stereotypes of a Middle East rife with senseless violence, authoritarianism, and strict religious rule." * International Journal of Middle East Studies *"Offers a fresh look at the making of the modern Arab world. Given the plethora of studies that focus on contemporary wars and sectarian violence, this well-researched study employs Arabic and Western resources that challenge the prevailing perceptions about the region and its people. . . . An outstanding study with insight about the agency of Arab intellectuals, thinkers and people at large who, despite twentieth-century local and global violence, persist in struggling for a better world. This is a must-read for all scholars and students of Middle East and cultural studies." * Arab Studies Quarterly *"A major achievement. . . . This is historical analysis whose reframing of the past genuinely helps to offer possibilities for imagining future forms of coexistence." * World History Connected *Table of ContentsList of Maps Acknowledgments Note on Transliteration Introduction: The Ecumenical Frame Part I 1. Religious Difference in an Imperial Age 2. The Crucible of Sectarian Violence 3. Coexistence in an Age of Genocide Part II 4. Colonial Pluralism 5. Sectarianism and Antisectarianism in the Post-Ottoman Arab World 6. Breaking the Ecumenical Frame: Arab and Jew in Palestine Epilogue Notes Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Ingram's writes engagingly . . . [and] Revival from Below offers an insightful, compelling narrative that is a pleasure to read." * Religious Studies Review *"Ingram has brought remarkable clarity and theoretical nuance to contextualize the Deoband movement as a global phenomenon." * American Journal of Islam and Society *"Ingram has given us a brilliant and unprecedented account of the transnational entanglements of the Deobandi school that will go far toward re-emphasizing the centrality of South Asian Islam in the modern world." * Die Welt des Islams *"Ingram writes engagingly and is always clear about the book’s parameters and trajectory. Overall, Revival from Below offers an insightful, compelling narrative that is a pleasure to read." * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1. A Modern Madrasa 2. The Normative Order 3. Remaking the Public 4. Remaking the Self 5. What Does a Tradition Feel Like? 6. How a Tradition Travels 7. A Tradition Contested Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLike the Dublin of Joyce and Jan Morris'' Venice, Orhan Pamuk''s bestselling Istanbul: Memories of a City is a triumphant encounter of place and sensibility, beautifully written and immensely moving.Since the publication of Istanbul, Pamuk has continued to add to his collection of photographs of Istanbul. Now, he has selected a range of photographs for Illustrated Istanbul, linking each new image to his memoir.This lavish selection of 450 photographs features contributions from Ara Güler, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Istanbul''s characteristic photography collectors, and contains previously unpublished family photographs from the author''s archives.

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Book SynopsisFrom the Bronze Age to the twenty-first century, vying armies have clashed over the territory stretching from the Upper Nile to modern-day Iraq and Iran. Ian Barnes’s Crossroads of War captures five millennia of conflict and conquest in detailed full-color maps, accompanied by incisive, accessible commentary.Trade ReviewFrom the earliest cities to the development of three of the world’s leading religions and from supplying much of the world’s petroleum to ongoing war, the Middle East has greatly affected the history of the entire world… This atlas offers excellent maps and accompanying text that attempt to bring this history to life… With a 5,000-year time span, this important work covers more history than any other atlas of the Middle East. -- G. A. Crawford * Choice *

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Book SynopsisWhy is Israel’s relatively small and low-budget military also the world’s most innovative, technologically and logistically? Edward Luttwak and Eitan Shamir look to the IDF’s unique structure: integrating army, air force, and navy in one service, under an officer class constantly refreshed by short tenures, the IDF is built for agility and change.Trade ReviewRich with rare detail, much of it a result of the authors’ access to the IDF’s inner sanctums and their intimate knowledge of grand strategy and military history. -- Tunku Varadarajan * Wall Street Journal *An incisive, original study of military innovation as it has developed over more than half a century at one of the world’s most redoubtable armed forces, the Israel Defense Forces. Bursting with pertinent information, it is also a pleasure to read. It would be hard to find authors more highly qualified than Luttwak and Shamir to write this book, which should appeal to anyone interested in the modern military. -- Martin van Creveld, author of The Transformation of WarUntil now, no one has adequately explained why the Israel Defense Forces has had such a unique legacy of innovation. Luttwak and Shamir do so in a way that illuminates not only the IDF but also the broader challenges of creativity in war. -- Eliot A. Cohen, author of The Big StickBrilliantly reveals the secret to the success of the Israeli military: its capacity for innovation. Luttwak and Shamir, two distinguished historians who know the Israel Defense Forces inside and out, show how the receptiveness to invention and the courage to change course even in the heat of battle have made the IDF one of the world’s most effective armies. Every serving officer in the armed forces of NATO should read this indispensable work. -- Col. Douglas Macgregor, US Army, Ret., author of Margin of VictoryAn important book for anyone interested in understanding how organizations innovate and improve. The saying ‘change or die’ is true for organizations in general, but in the case of the IDF, it is true in the most literal sense. Many armies throughout history have shown a great capacity for change when necessary, but Luttwak and Shamir show that for the Israeli military, innovation is a way of life. -- Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, Chief of General Staff, Israel Defense Forces, Ret.A compelling and important book. In wartime, armed forces must learn and apply what they learn in combat. In between wars, they must learn from the past and anticipate the future. The IDF is the perfect subject for drawing lessons important to developing military organizations that fight and win; Luttwak and Shamir are the perfect authors to illuminate those lessons. -- Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, US Army, Ret., author of Battlegrounds

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Book SynopsisA unique and accessible insight into the world's oldest writing system, revealing how ancient inscriptions lead to a new way of thinking about the past.

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Book SynopsisThe Six-Day War was an extraordinary human drama. It swept up a generation of Israelis and Arabs whose children still cannot live peacefully in the world the war created. Today, Israel is the superpower of the region. It has nuclear weapons but has never been able to digest the land it swallowed in 1967. However big its army, it will never be at peace or feel secure until the future of this land is settled.Forty years after the end of the six days of fighting, after thousands more deaths and the failure of years of negotiation to try to reach a political settlement, Israelis and Palestinians are fighting once again on the streets in the West Bank and Gaza. It is still a low-level conflict, but if another full-blown Middle East war breaks out, its roots will lie in those six days in June 1967. Drawing on his experiences as the BBC's former Middle East correspondent, and building on extensive original research and interviews with some of the key participants, Jeremy Bowen uses his vast array of contacts to weave together a completely convincing and compelling account, hour by hour, of the 1967 war between Israel and Egypt, Jordan and Syria. As insightful as the best modern history writing and as gripping as fiction, this is a deeply personal book.Trade Review'Gripping... You emerge from the book feeling you have been as close an observer of a war as you are ever likely to be' * Literary Review *'A fast-paced history... Bowen provides an hour-by-hour narrative of the war, which is surely the most gripping military tale since the fall of France in the Second World War' * Daily Telegraph *'Impeccably accurate... Meticulous... Jeremy Bowen has performed a service by reminding us how we got here' * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisA story of a family on the frontlinesTrade Review'A deeply moving chronicle of the persisting Palestinian ordeal. This book more than any I have read tells me why anyone of conscience must stand in solidarity with the continuing struggle of the Palestinian people for self-determination and a just peace' -- Richard Falk, Albert G. Milbank Professor of International Law Emeritus, Princeton University and Special Rapporteur for Occupied Palestinian Territories, UN Human Right Council'This book should be read by all who struggle to understand the Middle East and to find passage to a just peace in the region' -- Cindy and Craig Corrie, The Rachel Corrie Foundation'Ramzy Baroud's sensitive, thoughtful, searching writing penetrates to the core of moral dilemmas that their intended audiences evade at their peril' -- Noam Chomsky'This is a very fine book: both a loving tribute to the author's father and the struggle and pain of Palestine seen through the witness and insights of two generations. Together, they beckon freedom' -- John Pilger, award-winning journalist and documentary filmmaker.'A gifted writer' -- Salman Abu Sitta, author and historian, Founder and President of Palestine Land Society, London.Table of ContentsAcknowledgments Foreword Dr. Salman Abu Sitta Preface Map 1. Happier Times 2. Born into Turmoil 3. Taking Flight 4. A World Outside the Tent 5. Lost and Found 6. Zarefah 7. Al-Naksa: The Setback 8. An Olive Branch and a Thousand Cans of Tomato Sauce 9. Strange Men at the Beach Casino 10. Intifada: … and All Hell Broke Loose 11. Oslo on the Line 12. The World as Seen From the Stone Staircase 13. Dying, Again Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisCompelling account of a legendary Palestinian resistance fighter: from refugee camp to international infamyTrade ReviewA nuanced historical biography based on thorough historical research together with extensive interviews with Leila Khaled and those close to her'A fine portrayal of a compelling and mysterious figure from a tumultuous period in Palestinian history, mixing biography and historical critique to deliver a valuable insight into Leila Khaled's character as well as her extraordinary appeal as a revolutionary icon' -- Nicholas Blincoe, co-editor of Peace Under Fire: Israel/Palestine and the International Solidarity MovementA readable and accessibly written book, packing an impressive amount of material into less than 150 pages, and is a rare resource for those who want to know more about the life of this fascinating and complex Palestinian icon.Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Haifa, Lebanon, Kuwait 2. Leila The Fighter 3. Black September 4. Marriage And Death 5. Revolutionary Women 6. Moving To Jordan And Returning To Palestine 7. Leila Khaled In The Future, Palestine In The Future References Index

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Book SynopsisA stunning history of Lebanon over five centuriesTrade Review'Puts Lebanon's long war into a context that makes it comprehensible and, perhaps, inevitable. Everyone who is curious about that beautiful and tormented country should read his history, one of the best yet' -- Charles Glass, author of The Northern Front and The Tribes Triumphant'Skillfully weaving together social, political, cultural and economic history, this deeply informed and penetrating study provides a rich understanding of the vibrant, tragic, but ever hopeful Lebanese 'door to East and West'' -- Noam Chomsky'This is a unique work. Fawwaz Traboulsi provides a compelling account of Lebanon's emergence as a state, a critical appraisal of its autonomy, a pathbreaking analysis of its social origins in the intimate and ever changing relationship of caste and class' -- Irene Gendzier, Professor of History, Boston University'Traboulsi writes what has eluded us for a long time, a history of modern lebanon that includes the civil war and post civil war periods' -- Maya Mikdashi, JadaliyyaTable of ContentsIntroduction Acknowledgements Chronology Glossary Section One: Ottoman Lebanon 1. The Emirate of Mount Lebanon (1523--1842) 2. The Bloody Death of the Muqata`ji System (1842--1861) 3. Grandeur and Misery of the Mutasarrifiya (1861--1915) 4. Beirut, Capital of Trade and Culture (1820--1918) Section Two: State and Society 5. Dialectics of Attachment and Detachment (1915--1920) 6. From Mandate to Independence (1920--1943) 7. The Merchant Republic (1943--1952) 8. The Pro-Western Authoritarianism of Kamil Chamoun (1952--1958) 9. Shihabism and the Difficult Autonomy of the State (1958--1970) 10. The Pre-War Crises (1968--1975) Section Three: the Wars of Lebanon 11. Reform by Arms (1975--1976) 12. The Longest Coup d’Etat (1977--1982) 13. The War Order (1983--1990) 14. Ambiguities and Contradictions of the Taif Agreement Bibliography Notes Index

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Book SynopsisFirst-generation Palestinian refugees recall life before and after the NakbaTrade Review'Through the pages of this book the reader can hear, feel, experience and understand more about the Nakba than by reading any other book on the subject' -- Raja Shehadeh, author of 'Going Home: A Walk Through Fifty Years of Occupation''Moving and thoughtful [...] With their silences, ellipses and jags of storytelling, the refugee voices invite us to imagine the lives torn asunder by the violence of the Nakba' -- Laleh Khalili, Queen Mary University of London and author of 'Heroes and Martyrs of Palestine: The Politics of National Commemoration' (CUP, 2019)‘Brings to life the experiences of ordinary Palestinians in pre-1948 Palestine and the traumatic experience of war and exile, written by leading scholars in the field. Of special value in this volume is the section on control and resistance during the Mandate dealing with policing, and narratives of rebellion’ -- Salim Tamari, Professor of Sociology (Emeritus), Birzeit University'A truly impressive collection [...] An opportunity to reconsider whether what the Palestinians faced was victimhood rather than an act of colonialism' -- Dawn Chatty, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Forced Migration, University of Oxford'Imaginatively curated and framed [...] A brilliant contribution to the current moment as the world finally understands the true nature of the Palestinian struggle' -- Ahdaf Soueif, author of 'The Map of Love''The stories gathered here are the fruit of perseverant gathering. Their careful, deliberate, loving translation bear the sense and sensualities of Palestinian existence. 'Voices of the Nakba' shows how and why those who will not forget will never be forgotten' -- Fred Moten, cultural theorist and author of 'The Feel Trio''The oral history of colonised people is a lifeline against the coloniser's official history with its violent erasure. This excellent book centres the marginalised voices of Palestinians, reflecting the rich and complex tapestry of their experiences' -- Ibtisam Azem, author of 'The Book of Disappearance''A comprehensive, illuminating, and moving work of scholarship, which is also, quite simply, a work of art' -- Liron Mor, Assistant Professor, Department of Comparative Literature, University of California, Irvine‘A monumental achievement [...] Enhancing the use of oral history as a research methodology, this book is a major addition to Nakba Studies and the living history of modern Palestine. A must read for those interested in the roots of the Palestinian refugee question and a just future for Palestine.’ -- Professor Nur Masalha, Palestinian historian and formerly Director of the Centre for Religion and History at St. Mary's University, TwickenhamTable of ContentsList of Figures Map of Palestine Acknowledgements Note on Translation and Transliteration Foreword by Mahmoud Zeidan Introduction: Past Continuous by Diana Allan PART I: Life in Pre-1948 Palestine 1. Village Life in Palestine - Rochelle Davis 2. Of Forests and Trees: City Life in 1930s Palestine - Sherene Seikaly 3. The Margin and the Centre in Narrating Pre-1948 Palestine - Amirah Silmi 4. Mandated Memory: The Schooling of Palestine in Nicola Ziadeh’s and Anis Sayigh’s Pre-1948 Recollections - Dyala Hamzah PART II: The British Mandate and Palestinian and Arab Resistance 5. Motivations and Tensions of Palestinian Police Service under British Rule - Alex Winder 6. Storying the Great Arab Revolt: Narratives of Resistance During 1936–39 - Jacob Norris 7. Songs of Resistance - Ted Swedenburg PART III: War and Ethnic Cleansing 8. The Roots of the Nakba - Salman Abu Sitta 9. Four Villages, Four Stories: Ethnic Cleansing Massacres in al-Jalil - Saleh Abdel Jawad 10. Remembering the Fight - Laila Parsons PART IV: Flight and Exile 11. The Dispossession of Lydda - Lena Jayyusi 12. Scars of the Mind: Trauma, Gender and Counter-Memories of the Nakba - Ruba Salih 13. The Politics of Listening - Cynthia Kreichati Afterword: Oral History in Palestinian Studies by Rosemary Sayigh Contributors and Translators Glossary Notes Index

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Book SynopsisMohammad Gharipour is professor at the School of Architecture and Planning at Morgan State University. The recipient of the Hamad Bin Khalifa Fellowship in Islamic Art and the Spiro Kostof Fellowship Award from the Society of Architectural Historians, Gharipour has published extensively on architectural history. He is the the author of Gardens of Renaissance Europe and the Islamic Empires, Synagogues of the Islamic World, and Historiography of Persian Architecture and is editor of 'Bazaar in the Islamic City' (2012) and the founding editor of the 'International Journal of Islamic Architecture'.Trade ReviewMohammad Gharipour's fine book focuses on Persian gardens and the permanent or temporary structures within them, during the period from the fifteenth through the eighteenth centuries, but includes a useful concise survey of references to gardens in earlier literature stretching back to ancient Sumer, the Bible and the Qur'an. A scholarly book, it includes extensive apparatus of glossary, notes and sources, and 100 illustrations, many in color, generally of high quality and beautiful to study. It relies heavily on textual sources, including histories and poetry and travelers' accounts especially, and also pictorial sources, especially manuscript illuminations. Its wide scope seeks to set the garden in its social and historical context as a place for meetings and display and pleasure, as well as sometimes places of production. It goes beyond earlier treatments of the theme, including even color visualizations of Haravi's proposal for a "paradise" garden in the fifteenth century, and has systematic investigations of many questions, especially in regard to structures, such as tents, or thrones in gardens, and also discusses what can be said about the types and arrangements of plants." -- Lawrence Nees, university of Delaware * CHOICE *Much has been written about Islamic gardens and Islamic architecture. Mohammad Gharipour usefully discusses the relationship between the two…the contents are clearly arranged. -- Caroline Stone * SAUDI ARAMCO WORLD (US) *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: The Garden and Pavilion in Near Eastern Pre-Islamic Texts, the Qur'an and Persian Poetry Chapter 3: The Garden and Pavilion in Persian Art Chapter 4: The Garden and Pavilion through the Lens of Travelers and Historians Chapter 5: Conclusion Matrix Glossary of Terms Poets, Historians and Travellers Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAn enlightening and authoritative history, explaining both the creation and unravelling of the current Syrian regime and the roots of the broader Middle East conflict. A rare and accessible guide to a complex nation. Fully updated edition with 5 maps.Trade Review'Enlightening' Robert Fisk, Independent '[Provides] a real insight into the political fragility that underpins much of what caused the current civil war - Remarkably prescient - At the very start of this enlightening read, McHugo makes the point that to the English-speaking world, Syria is a far off country which relatively few people have made a serious effort to understand. In writing this insightful and timely book, he has gone some considerable way to rectifying this neglect.' Sunday Herald '[A] very timely modern history of Syria ... McHugo provides the reader with a high level of sound analysis. Perhaps the most interesting contribution is his concluding remarks concerning the debate over whether new borders will be imposed on the region. The book is written both with academic scrutiny and with the empathy of an individual who cares greatly for his area of study.' Journal of Peace Research 'Providing historical context for the Syrian crisis, McHugo uncovers uncanny parallels between the pacification strategies of the French in the 1920s and the Bashar al-Assad regime today, exposing the continuous role of violence in the region's (flawed) state formation.' Raymond Hinnebusch, Centre for Syrian Studies, University of St Andrews 'A fluent introduction to Syria's recent past, this book provides the backstory to the country's collapse into brutal civil conflict' Andrew Arsan, St John's College, University of Cambridge 'Fascinating and timely, admirably written with original vision' Nikolaos van Dam 'An elegantly written popular history ... A work of great ambition, with a coherent chronological narrative ... Should be recommended reading for undergraduates, policy-makers and interested members of the public who wish to learn how Syria's different communities are shaping the current civil war and are likely to be shaped by it. [It asserts] innovative rubrics for processing the myriad horrific details which reach us daily from Syria's battlefields'. International Affairs 'Anyone with any interest in Middle Eastern history and politics must read Syria. There was a need for an accessible guide to the past century of history, which this admirably provides.' Geographical MagazineTable of ContentsList of Maps Chronology Glossary Preface 1 The Land that Once was Known as Shaam 2 French Rule, 1920 - 1946 3 From Independence to Hafez al-Assad, 1946 - 1970 4 Hafez al-Assad, 1970 - 2000: Foreign Policy Challenges 5 Inside the Syria of Hafez al-Assad, 1970 - 2000 6 Bashar al-Assad, 2000 - : From Succession to Civil War 7 Drawing the Threads Together Acknowledgements Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNew paperback edition of critically acclaimed, lively and gripping account of the British invasion and occupation of Iraq and of the Arab revolt against it, the most serious armed uprising against British rule in the twentieth century. Vividly brings to life key players such as Winston Churchill, T.E. Lawrence, Gertrude Bell, Sir Mark Sykes.Trade Review'This brilliant book reveals the folly and delusion of invading Iraq. Read it and shudder' Nicholas Rankin, author of Churchill's Wizards: The British Genius for Deception 'The description of the military campaign is masterful - maintains a high level of suspense' Peter Sluglett, author of Britain in Iraq: Contriving King and Country 'Material with acute relevance to the crisis now tearing Iraq to pieces.' Robert Fisk, Independent 'Readers will find plenty of food for thought in Ian Rutledge's well-crafted and lively account ... The scenarios of occupation, foreign rule, jihad, resistance and counter-insurgency it depicts are unmistakably familiar, a reminder of the political instability and bloodshed that have tarnished Iraq since the 2003 US invasion - While offering abundant detail on military operations, lines of communications and warfare tactics, 'Enemy on the Euphrates' also makes for a very lively and human-centred read of imperial history ... Rutledge's account displays a novelist's taste for intrigue, espionage, gunboat diplomacy, personal hardship and murder.' BBC History Magazine 'An excellently produced book that admirably succeeds in illuminating an important episode in British imperial history' History Today 'Rutledge does an excellent job of conveying the logistical difficulties confronting any military leadership ... deserving of a wide readership' Middle East Journal 'As the legions of ISIS set up their proto-Caliphate in Iraq, the word 'prescience' comes forcibly to mind.' The Oldie 'A timely reminder of how we got here - an important book' The National 'Thought provoking - I like to think this book might find a place on the shelves of the libraries of the RUSI, Sandhurst or West Point' War History Online 'A readable and very useful contribution to the understanding of modern Iraq' Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online 'Eye-opening, fascinating and brilliantly-written - Excellent' The Long, Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918, 'Compelling, rich with such colourful personalities as Winston Churchill, Gertrude Bell and T. E. Lawrence' Saudi Aramco World 'Much of Enemy on the Euphrates reads like a great adventure story, proving how fascinating real history can be ... a rare combination of in-depth information, fairness of analysis and readability, reinforced by excellent maps.' Jordan Times 'Timely and rich in detail - highly readable, lively and dramatic. [Rutledge] presents fascinating accounts of the main British and Iraqi personalities involved in the narrative and the conflicts that sometimes erupted between them' al-Hayat 'Anyone seeking an understanding of the role of oil in shaping modern Middle Eastern history will want to read this book' Michael Klare, author of The Race for What's Left: The Global Scramble for the World's Last Resources 'It vividly captures how the ground was prepared for much of the violence in today's Middle East ... A rewarding read ... [Rutledge] writes with the literary skill of a novelist who has the analytical mind of a social scientist. Enemy on the Euphrates is full of multidimensional character studies and we are provided with insight into all the major players, from Churchill to Hussein bin Ali and Gertrude Bell to General Haldane ... This is a story of imperial arrogance and plunder, and the inevitable reaction that it generates. There are many lessons here that, had they been taken on board earlier, could have prevented much of the folly of the last 15 years.' LSE Review of BooksTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Maps Note on Arabic Transliteration Glossary Abbreviations Preface The Principal Actors PART ONE: INVASION, JIHAD AND OCCUPATION 1 Indications of Oil 2 Lieutenant Wilson's First Mission 3 'Protect the oil refineries' 4 Arab Mobilisation on the Euphrates 5 The Jihad Defeated 6 Pacifying Arabistan 7 Imperial Objectives in the East 8 The Menace of Jihad and How to Deal with It 9 The Lieutenant from Mosul 10 The Peculiar Origins of an Infamous Agreement 11 Two British Defeats but a New Ally 12 Colonel Leachman and Captain Lawrence 13 Mosul and Oil 14 'Complete liberation' 15 Najaf 1918: First Uprising on the Euphrates 16 Britain's New Colony 17 The Oil Agreements 18 The Independence Movement in Baghdad 19 General Haldane's Difficult Posting 20 Trouble on the Frontiers PART TWO: REVOLUTION AND SUPPRESSION 21 The Drift to Violence 22 The Revolution Begins 23 Discord and Disputation 24 General Haldane's Indian Army 25 'The situation has come to a head' 26 The Destruction of the Manchester Column 27 'Further unfavourable developments' 28 The Structures of Insurgent Power 29 Trouble on the Home Front 30 The Siege of Samawa 31 Defeat 32 A Death on the Baghdad Road 33 The Punishment 34 A 'friendly native state' Afterword Appendix: Some Biographical Notes Acknowledgements Notes Bibliography Image Credits Index

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Book SynopsisDescribing various aspects of life in complex historical eras - cultural, social, religious, and political, this work details such day-to-day activities as cooking, games, dress, and parenting.Trade Review"Daily Life in the Medieval Islamic World reviews major historical and cultural events while explaining the more personal details of daily life, such as the role of camels, housing arrangements, and entertainment. For the truly immersive experience, Lindsay even provides a few medieval Islamic recipes and instructions for converting between Christian and Islamic calendars." --Middle East Journal

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Book SynopsisTwo striking lyric essays from master poet and philosopher Etel AdnanTrade ReviewAwards: Winner The 2013 Lambda Book Prize in Poetry (Lesbian Poetry) Winner: The 2013 California Book Award in Poetry Runner-Up: The 2013 Arab American Book Award Review Quote: “This is the vision of an artist who has seen and thought much, and whose concern for the universe of which she counts herself a citizen runs deep… Sea and Fog concerns itself with universal forces, refusing to shy away from the most tragic repeating cycles of human nature: departure, death, war, and love. Hope, in its conventional form, may not be present in these pages, but deep understanding that may lead us there—that, perhaps, we may read into the endless motion of Adnan’s fog-fringed sea.”—Lambda Literary Review “Etel Adnan sharpens the starkness of the world of matter and anti-matter. These texts are psalms that stretch from the sublime to the violent, journey from Yosemite Valley to a soldier’s jeep in the desert, and gather from Dostoevsky to Scalapino. A history, a gospel, a prayer book, it dwells in the divine.”—Elmaz Abinader

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Book SynopsisA landmark history of one hundred years of war waged against the Palestinians from the foremost US historian of the Middle East, told through pivotal events and family historyIn 1899, Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi, mayor of Jerusalem, alarmed by the Zionist call to create a Jewish national home in Palestine, wrote a letter aimed at Theodore Herzl: the country had an indigenous people who would not easily accept their own displacement. He warned of the perils ahead, ending his note, in the name of God, let Palestine be left alone. Thus Rashid Khalidi, al-Khalidi's great-great-nephew, begins this sweeping history, the first general account of the conflict told from an explicitly Palestinian perspective.Drawing on a wealth of untapped archival materials and the reports of generations of family membersmayors, judges, scholars, diplomats, and journalistsThe Hundred Years'' War on Palestine upends accepted interpretations of the conflict, which tend, at best, to desc

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Book SynopsisTraces the dynamic history of Iraq in the 20th century and reinserts the modern remnants of these peoples into its day-to-day concerns.

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Book SynopsisA Treasury of Virtues is a collection of sayings, sermons, and teachings attributed to ''Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 40/661), the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad, the first Shia Imam and the fourth Sunni Caliph.An acknowledged master of Arabic eloquence and a sage of Islamic wisdom, ''Ali was renowned for his eloquence: his words were collected, quoted, and studied over the centuries, and extensively anthologized, excerpted, and interpreted.Of the many compilations of ''Ali's words, A Treasury of Virtues, compiled by the Fatimid Shafi''i judge al-Quda''i, arguably possesses the broadest compass of genres and the largest variety of themes. Included are aphorisms, proverbs, sermons, speeches, homilies, prayers, letters, dialogues, and verse, all of which provide instruction on how to be a morally upstanding human being. The shorter compilation included here, One Hundred Proverbs, is attributed to the eminent writer al-Jahiz (d. 255/869).Trade ReviewPowerful and compelling in its portrayal of the vicissitudes of fate and the inevitability of death and decay. Many of the translated aphorisms and wise sayings are equally powerful... Qutbuddins volume is well written and well executeda valuable addition to any scholars library. -- Emily Selove, University of ManchesterThe quality of the translation is superior and the choice of maxims is well advised, as they constitute a major category of Arabic (and also medieval European) literature, a genre with which modernreaders are not acquainted. This translation will introduce them to it. -- Beatrice Gruendler, Yale UniversityTahera Qutbuddin, associate professor of Arabic Literature at the University of Chicago, translates a collection by the Fatimid Shafi'i judge al-Quda'i of sayings, sermons, and teachings attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib. Ali is an acknowledged master of Arabic eloquence and a sage of Islamic wisdom. While several versions of the text exist, Qutbuddin is primarily using the Istanbul text. * Islamic Horizons *Tahera Qutbuddins edition proves to be definitive since, unlike the previous versions, she relies on all accessible manuscript and published editions. Qutbuddin also clearly demonstrated mastery and understanding of the difficult language of ?Alis prose and poetry, leading to a smooth presentation of the Arabic texts and a first-rate English translation Tahera Qutbuddin and the editorial team of the Library of Arabic Literature deserve to be congratulated for producing this exemplary volume. * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *Table of ContentsIntroduction 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (d. 40/661): Life and Personality Orality, Authenticity, and Collection of 'Ali's Words: Layered Sources The Literary Style of 'Ali's Words: Oral Patterns, Islamic Ethos, and Arabian Context Al-Qadi al-Quda'i (d. 454/1062): Career and Books A Treasury of Virtues: Form and Content Al-Jahiz (d. 255/869) and the One Hundred Proverbs 'Ali's Wisdom in the West Acknowledgements A Note on the Text A Treasury of Virtues Chapter 1: Wise Sayings Chapter 2: Exhortations to Reject Worldliness Chapter 3: Counsel Chapter 4: Prescriptions and Proscriptions Chapter 5: 'Ali's Questions with Answers, and 'Ali's Answers to Questions Chapter 6: Sayings with Unusual Words Chapter 7: Unique Sayings and Pithy Words Chapter 8: Prayers and Supplications Chapter 9: Verse One Hundred Proverbs Glossary of Names and Terms Bibliography Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisCollecting 635 meticulous recipes, Scents and Flavors invites us to savor an inventive cuisine that elevates simple ingredients by combining the sundry aromas of herbs, spices, fruits, and flower essences. This popular thirteenth-century Syrian cookbook is an ode to what its anonymous author calls the greater part of the pleasure of this life, namely the consumption of food and drink, as well as the fragrances that garnish the meals and the diners who enjoy them. Organized like a meal, it opens with appetizers and juices and proceeds through main courses, side dishes, and desserts, including such confections as candies based on the higher densities of sugar syrupan innovation unique to the medieval Arab world. Apricot beverages, stuffed eggplant, pistachio chicken, coriander stew, melon crepes, and almond pudding are seasoned with nutmeg, rose, cloves, saffron, and the occasional rare ingredient like ambergris to delight and surprise the banqueter. BookendeTrade ReviewAn extraordinary achievement, a brilliant translation of a very important work by an author who really understands cooking, and a valuable addition to our understanding of Middle Eastern culture and gastronomy. -- Claudia Roden, author of The New Book of Middle Eastern FoodAn extensive glossary, plus facing pages of the original Arabic text, make this a desirable reference work for scholars. * AramcoWorld *Hopefully, this cookbook can be made part of many library collections around the world, accessible to many Syrian chefs and food-lovers, wherever they may be. * Qantara.de *The book will interest epicures and cultural historians alike. * Islamic Horizons *We can learn a lot from an old cookbook. And the recent release of Scents and Flavors, a new translation from NYU Press's Library of Arabic Literature, provides a glimpse of social history that feels particularly timely. * FoodandWine.com *A significant scholarly contribution . . . Presented and framed in a way that renders it accessible to food scholars who work on other regions and cuisines . . . Provides a useful framing of the cookbook in the broader context of Middle Eastern culinary history, medieval Islamic medicine, and the specific sequencing and practices of feasting in thirteenth-century Syria. * Gastronomica *A good example of the best that can come out of a combination of quality scholarship and practical experience. * Journal of the American Oriental Society *Fun for history buffs and amateur chefs, the recipes making for a fantastic dinner party. * AlJazeera *

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Book SynopsisIn 1869, Hayyim Habshush, a Yemeni Jew, accompanied the European orientalist Joseph Halévy on his archaeological tour of Yemen. Twenty years later, Habshush wrote A Vision of Yemen, a memoir of their travels, that provides a vivid account of daily life, religion, and politics. More than a simple travelogue, it is a work of trickster-tales, thick anthropological descriptions, and reflections on Jewish–Muslim relations. At its heart lies the fractious and intimate relationship between the Yemeni coppersmith and the "enlightened" European scholar and the collision between the cultures each represents. The book thus offers a powerful indigenous response to European Orientalism. This edition is the first English translation of Habshush's writings from the original Judeo-Arabic and Hebrew and includes an accessible historical introduction to the work. The translation maintains Habshush's gripping style and rich portrayal of the diverse communities and cultures of Yemen, offering a potent mixture of artful storytelling and cultural criticism, suffused with humor and empathy. Habshush writes about the daily lives of men and women, rich and poor, Jewish and Muslim, during a turbulent period of war and both Ottoman and European imperialist encroachment. With this translation, Alan Verskin recovers the lost voice of a man passionately committed to his land and people.Trade Review"Alan Verskin has provided a masterful translation of Hayyim Habshush's gripping account of his travels and a rare and intimate glimpse into Jewish and Muslim life in the Arabian hinterlands. A Vision of Yemen should be of great interest not only to students and scholars of Jewish, Islamic, and Middle Eastern history, but also to the wider audience of travel literature."—Norman A. Stillman, University of Oklahoma"A Vision in Yemen reveals Hayyim Habshush's remarkable curiosity about his own society in nineteenth-century Yemen and its ancient history. With his masterful translation, Alan Verskin elucidates time and place for modern readers, bringing Habshush and his European interlocutors to life."—Brinkley Messick, Columbia University"Alan Verskin's book goes a long way in countering the various orientalist tropes that have often characterised our understanding of Yemeni Jews by rendering accessible the travelogue A Vision of Yemen....It enhances our understanding of encounters between East and West, and more importantly is a testament to Muslim-Jewish relations in the Middle East just as cacophonous sectarian voices dominate the region's public discourse."—Thanos Petouris, Asian Affairs

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Book SynopsisA Sunday Times Paperback of the YearA Spectator and New Statesman Book of the Year‘An illuminating and riveting read.’ - Jonathan DimblebyJeremy Bowen, the International Editor of the BBC, has been covering the Middle East since 1989 and is uniquely placed to explain its complex past and its troubled present. Here, Bowen offers readers a gripping and invaluable guide to the modern Middle East, how it came to be and what its future might hold.In The Making of the Modern Middle East – in part based on his acclaimed podcast, ‘Our Man in the Middle East’ – Bowen takes us on a journey across the Middle East and through its history. He meets ordinary men and women on the front line, their leaders, whether brutal or benign, and he explores the power games that have so often wreaked devastation on civilian populations as those leaders, whatever their motives, jostle for political, religious and economic control.Clear throughout is Bowen's deep understanding of the political, cultural and religious differences between countries as diverse as Erdogan’s Turkey, Assad’s Syria, Netanyahu’s Israel, and Palestine, whether Hamas-controlled Gaza or the West Bank, and his long experience of covering events in the region.Trade ReviewWritten with modesty, grace and compassion, his account of 30 years working in the Middle East for the BBC combines his own personal experience with and a rare understanding of what makes this tortured region so dangerously combustible . . . The result is an illuminating and riveting read. -- Jonathan Dimbleby, broadcaster, author and historianArresting . . . excellent, doom-freighted -- Justin Marozzi * The Times *Bears witness to how lofty dreams of the post-Cold War period crashed and burned ... with deep empathy and understanding of the roots of the conflict. -- Emma Sky * The New Statesman *[A] compelling blend of sweeping history and vivid memoir . . . Bowen paints in the historical background masterfully and manages to convey the pressure, euphoria and horror of war reporting as well. * Mail on Sunday *A gripping and compelling account that swings between gut-wrenching eyewitness stories and dispassionate analysis, laying bare the hopes and horrors of the Middle East in the twenty-first century. A remarkable book. -- Professor Eugene Rogan, author of The Arabs: A HistoryThis book is a very personal and erudite history of a troubled region where enemies of impartiality abound, though some don’t even live there. I highly recommend this fascinating book which is also a testament to a better era in journalism. -- Michael Burleigh, author of The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: A History of NowThis is a wise, compelling, fast-paced book - essential reading if you wish to make sense of the forces that have convulsed the Middle East, as well as unsettling all our lives, since the end of the Cold War. -- Jason Cowley, author of Who Are We Now? and Editor in Chief of The New StatesmanFew people are as well placed to authoritatively depict the making of the modern Middle East than Jeremy Bowen, the BBC’s long-serving correspondent in the region . . . excellent * The New European *Jeremy Bowen is a master of succinct writing for television and in print, and his skill is showcased to brilliant effect in this distillation of decades of experience reporting from the Middle East. It’s a terrific book, pithy and pacy, equally at home telling stories of ordinary people as in encounters with princes and presidents. -- Matthew Teller, journalist and author of Nine Quarters of JerusalemJeremy Bowen is uniquely qualified to analyse and explain the region’s complex political and religious landscape. His book should be essential reading for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this fascinating, but deeply troubled, part of the world. -- Con Coughlin, author of Saddam: The Secret Life and Khomeini's Ghost

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Book Synopsis'Heresy is a brilliant book' - The Times'Enthralling' - The Sunday Telegraph‘In the beginning was the Word,’ says the Gospel of John. This sentence – and the words of all four gospels – is central to the teachings of the Christian church and has shaped Western art, literature and language, and the Western mind.Yet in the years after the death of Christ there was not merely one word, nor any consensus as to who Jesus was or why he had mattered. There were many different Jesuses, among them the aggressive Jesus who scorned his parents and crippled those who opposed him, the Jesus who sold his twin into slavery and the Jesus who had someone crucified in his stead.Moreover, in the early years of the first millennium there were many other saviours, many sons of gods who healed the sick and cured the lame. But as Christianity spread, they were pronounced unacceptable – even heretical &nda

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Book SynopsisA bold call for the American Left to extend their politics to the issues of Israel-Palestine In this major work of daring criticism and analysis, scholar and political commentator Marc Lamont Hill and Israel-Palestine expert Mitchell Plitnick spotlight how one-sided pro-Israel policies reflect the truth-bending grip of authoritarianism on both Israel and the United States. Except for Palestine argues that progressives and liberals who oppose regressive policies on immigration, racial justice, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and other issues must extend these core principles to the oppression of Palestinians. In doing so, the authors take seriously the political concerns and well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians, demonstrating the extent to which U.S. policy has made peace harder to attain. They also unravel the conflation of advocacy for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel. Hill and Plitnick provide a timely and essential intervention by examining multiple dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conversation, including Israel’s growing disdain for democracy, the effects of occupation on Palestine, the siege of Gaza, diminishing American funding for Palestinian relief, and the campaign to stigmatize any critique of Israeli occupation. Except for Palestine is a searing polemic and a cri de coeur for elected officials, activists, and everyday citizens alike to align their beliefs and politics with their values.Trade ReviewPraise for Except for Palestine:Winner of the Palestine Book Awards” Counter Current Award“A remarkable little book. . . . Except for Palestine should be read by anyone interested in events in Israel/Palestine—and obviously in particular, anyone claiming to be progressive and liberal.”—Palestine Chronicle “[A] principled cri de coeur to progressives everywhere. . . . Except for Palestine is a crucial and ultimately hopeful tool that better equips progressives to combat injustices within their own political circles.”—Mondoweiss“For too long, many have championed the rights and liberties of oppressed peoples here and abroad, but remained silent on Palestinian freedom, or even worse, supported U.S. policies that render Palestinian humanity and suffering invisible. This clear and courageous book is a clarion call for moral integrity and political consistency.”—Cornel West, Union Theological Seminary“Hill and Plitnick deliver a thoughtful and incisive analysis of how progressive commitments to racial and social justice are undermined by the ‘Palestinian exception.’ Building the civil rights movement for the twenty-first century in America requires an international intersectionality that necessarily includes advocating for the rights and dignity of Palestinians and Israelis alike. Except for Palestine is timely and vital.”—Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, Michigan’s 13th Congressional District“Except for Palestine calls on progressives to apply the same principles to Israel-Palestine that they apply to the U.S. It’s a simple, radical, and deeply important argument, which anyone who cherishes justice should not ignore.”—Peter Beinart, author of The Crisis of Zionism “Hill and Plitnick have produced a timely and powerful indictment of decades of U.S. policy exceptionalizing Israel at the expense of progressive values. Their thorough examination of American progressives’ intellectual and moral hypocrisy when it comes to defending Palestinians’ human rights, civil rights, and right to challenge Israeli occupation is a valuable resource.”—Lara Friedman, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace“This book explores some of the most fundamental contradictions confronting liberal spaces in the U.S. and makes a powerful case for the progressive core values of humanity, justice, and dignity to finally include the Palestinian people.”—Ahmad Abuznaid, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights“Except for Palestine cogently explores the reasons for the silence of so many progressives and liberals when it comes to the unceasing violations of the rights of the Palestinian people. Hill and Plitnick dismantle one by one the arguments used to justify this shameful silence, and in doing so provide an eloquent, balanced, and hard-hitting analysis of why ending an egregious exception to accepted norms of justice and equality is so imperative.”—Rashid Khalidi, author of Brokers of Deceit: How the U.S. Has Undermined Peace in the Middle East“A timely and compelling treatise on the moral failings of U.S. policy and American politics in relation to Israel/Palestine.”—Khaled Elgindy, Responsible Statecraft “An accessible, in-depth analysis that takes U.S. politics to task for normalising both Israel’s colonial violence and, as a result, the oppression of the Palestinian people.”—Middle East Monitor

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Book SynopsisA landmark history of one hundred years of war waged against the Palestinians from the foremost US historian of the Middle East, told through pivotal events and family historyIn 1899, Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi, mayor of Jerusalem, alarmed by the Zionist call to create a Jewish national home in Palestine, wrote a letter aimed at Theodore Herzl: the country had an indigenous people who would not easily accept their own displacement. He warned of the perils ahead, ending his note, ?in the name of God, let Palestine be left alone.? Thus Rashid Khalidi, al-Khalidi?s great-great-nephew, begins this sweeping history, the first general account of the conflict told from an explicitly Palestinian perspective.Drawing on a wealth of untapped archival materials and the reports of generations of family members?mayors, judges, scholars, diplomats, and journalists?The Hundred Years'' War on Palestine upends accepted interpretations of the conflict, which tend, at best, to describe a tragic clash between two peoples with claims to the same territory. Instead, Khalidi traces a hundred years of colonial war on the Palestinians, waged first by the Zionist movement and then Israel, but backed by Britain and the United States, the great powers of the age. He highlights the key episodes in this colonial campaign, from the 1917 Balfour Declaration to the destruction of Palestine in 1948, from Israel?s 1982 invasion of Lebanon to the endless and futile peace process. Original, authoritative, and important, The Hundred Years'' War on Palestine is not a chronicle of victimization, nor does it whitewash the mistakes of Palestinian leaders or deny the emergence of national movements on both sides. In reevaluating the forces arrayed against the Palestinians, it offers an illuminating new view of a conflict that continues to this day.

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Book SynopsisA powerful account, by Israeli peace activist Miko Peled, of his transformation from a young man who'd grown up in the heart of Israel's elite and served proudly in its military into a fearless advocate of nonviolent struggle and equal rights for all Palestinians and Israelis. His journey is mirrored in many ways the transformation his father, a much-decorated Israeli general, had undergone three decades earlier. Alice Walker contributed a foreword to the first edition in which she wrote, "There are few books on the Israel/Palestine issue that seem as hopeful to me as this one." In the new Epilogue he takes readers to South Africa, East Asia, several European countries, and the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel itself. Trade Review"A fascinating story that provides much food for thought."--Uri Avnery, Former Member of Knesset and veteran peace activist

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Book SynopsisScott Anderson is a veteran war correspondent who has reported from Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Northern Ireland, Chechnya, Sudan, Bosnia, El Salvador and many other war-torn countries. He is the author of two novels, Moonlight Hotel and Triage, two non-fiction books, The Man Who Tried to Save the World and The 4 O'Clock Murders, and co-author of War Zones and Inside the League with his brother Jon Lee Anderson.

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Book SynopsisToday, Dubai is a city of shimmering skyscrapers attracting thousands of tourists every year. Yet just sixty years ago Dubai's population scraped a living by picking dates, diving for pearls, or sailing in wooden dhows to trade with Iran and India. Dubai is everything the rest of the Arab world is not. Until recently it was the fastest-growing city in the world, with an economy whose growth outpaced China's while luring more tourists than all of India. The city has become a metaphor for the lush life, where the wealthy mingle in gilded splendour and luxury cars fill the streets, yet it is also beset by a backwash of bad design, environmental degradation and controversial labour practices. Dubai tells its unique story.Trade ReviewDubai examines this small emirate with admirable even-handedness and good humour... Krane also writes movingly of the conditions of the Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi workers who have built Dubai. -- James Drummond * Financial Times *Jim Krane traces the fascinating and long overlooked history of this city... in prose as spare and enchanting as a desert fairy tale. * The Times *A well researched and gripping tale of how... the city was transformed from a pre-modern hideout for smugglers and pirates * Sunday Telegraph *Engagingly written and sympathetic to its subject... Dubai will be a welcome addition to the cabin baggage of the many western visitors to the Emirates * Guardian *Jim Krane's breathless style complements his subject: Dubai is a city that has arisen impetuously and incoherently, its shape shifting as incessantly as the desert sands on which it is built. * Times Literary Supplement *Full of engaging anecdotes * Daily Telegraph *Packed with detail and colour, Dubai explores the city's remarkable history, bringing it to life and confronting its controversies. -- Dr Christopher Davidson, author of 'Dubai: The Vulnerability of Success'

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Book SynopsisThis revised edition builds upon and updates its twin themes of Turkey's continuing incorporation into the capitalist world and the modernization of state and society. It begins with the forging of closer links with Europe after the French Revolution, and the changing face of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th century. Zurcher argues that Turkey's history between 1908 and 1950 should be seen as a unity, and offers a strongly revisionist interpretation of Turkey's founding father, Kemal Ataturk. In his account of the period since 1950, Zurcher focuses on the growth of mass politics; the three military coups; the thorny issue of Turkey's human right's record; the alliance with the West and relations with the European Community; Turkey's ambivalent relations with the Middle East; the increasingly explosive Kurdish question; and the continuing political instability and growth of Islam.

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Book SynopsisFollowing the Arab Spring, Syria descended into civil and sectarian conflict. It has since become a fractured warzone which operates as a breeding ground for new terrorist movements including ISIS as well as the root cause of the greatest refugee crisis in modern history. In this important book, former Special Envoy of the Netherlands to Syria, Nikolaos van Dam, explains the recent history of Syria, covering the growing disenchantment with the Asad regime, the chaos of civil war and the fractures which led to an immense amount of destruction in the refined social fabric of what used to be the Syrian nation. Through an in-depth examination, van Dam traces political developments within the Asad regime and the various opposition groups from the Arab Spring to the present day, and provides a deeper insight into the conflict and the possibilities and obstacles for reaching a political solution.Trade Review'[A] monumental work on Syrian power politics' - Robert Fisk, The Independent, 'An excellent book' - Patrick Seale, 'An admirable study... invaluable for anyone with a serious interest in Middle Eastern politics' - Peter Mansfield, 'The most informative explanation of the effects of sectarianism and regionalism on Syrian politics' - Philip S. Khoury, MERIP Reports, '[An] excellent study of the sectarian bases of Syrian politics' - Foreign Affairs, 'Only a handful of important books have been written on modern Syria; and Nikolaos van Dam's The Struggle for Power in Syria is one of them' - Joshua Landis, International Journal of Middle East Studies, 'Nikolaos van Dam is a rare species: An academic analyst and an excellent diplomat who has accompanied and shaped recent Syrian history in theory and practice. He is also brutally honest, including with Western policy failures, and hard to be put into a political camp in this polarized conflict. On the basis of profound studies of the Baath system, he explains how Syria's disaster inevitably unfolded in the context of the Arab Spring, the brutal internal logic of an encrusted regime, and the vested interests of foreign powers. Van Dam's insights from old and new Syria make this book a valuable guide in the complex web of this worst conflict of our century. We get a taste of the difficult search for a new social contract and a political solution in Syria - if this is still possible before the state fails.' - Carsten Wieland, author of Syria: A Decade of Lost Chances, 'Nikolaos van Dam is simply one of the top experts on Syria. Setting the Syrian conflict within its historical and contemporary contexts, he draws on his unique combination of scholarly excellence and practical diplomatic experience. This book is a sophisticated, yet accessible and readable analysis of a highly complex situation. It substantially updates and advances our understanding of the ever evolving war in Syria.' - David W. Lesch, Ewing Halsell Distinguished Professor of History at Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas and author of Syria: The Fall of the House of Assad.Table of ContentsPreface 1 Introduction 2 Ba’thist history before the Syrian Revolution (2011) 3 Could the War in Syria have been avoided? 4 Confrontation between the military of the regime and the opposition 5 The ambivalent Western approach to the Syria conflict 6 Intra-Syrian talks but no negotiations 7 Conclusions Notes Bibliography Index

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Book Synopsis Shortlisted for the Palestine Book Awards 2017 A powerful, groundbreaking history of the Occupied Territories from one of Israel's most influential historians From the author of the bestselling study of the 1948 War of Independence comes an incisive look at the Occupied Territories, picking up the story where The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine left off. In this comprehensive exploration of one of the world’s most prolonged and tragic conflicts, Pappe uses recently declassified archival material to analyse the motivations and strategies of the generals and politicians – and the decision-making process itself – that laid the foundation of the occupation. From a survey of the legal and bureaucratic infrastructures that were put in place to control the population of over one million Palestinians, to the security mechanisms that vigorously enforced that control, Pappe paints a picture of what is to all intents and purposes the world’s largest ‘open prison’.Trade Review‘Ilan Pappe is Israel's bravest, most principled, most incisive historian.’ -- John Pilger‘[Pappe] boldly and persuasively argues for understanding the occupied territories as the world’s “largest ever mega-prison”... Pappe’s conclusions won’t be welcome in all quarters but this detailed history is rigorously supported by primary sources.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘A diagnostic survey of Israel's long-planned occupation of the Palestinian's land... A grim, hard-hitting look at the nuts and bolts of Israeli occupation.’ * Kirkus *‘Will undoubtedly raise a lot of hackles in his home state.’ * Irish Times *‘What is new in The Biggest Prison on Earth is Pappe's detailed accounting of exactly what the Israeli planners were contemplating in 1963; namely, "the largest ever mega-prison for a million and a half people."’ * Electronic Intifada *‘Pappe's book is critical for understanding the present situation and looking forward to possible solutions.’ * CHOICE reviews *

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Book SynopsisA historical tour de force, The Invention of the Jewish People offers a groundbreaking account of Jewish and Israeli history. Exploding the myth that there was a forced Jewish exile in the first century at the hands of the Romans, Israeli historian Shlomo Sand argues that most modern Jews descend from converts, whose native lands were scattered across the Middle East and Eastern Europe.In this iconoclastic work, which spent nineteen weeks on the Israeli bestseller list and won the coveted Aujourd'hui Award in France, Sand provides the intellectual foundations for a new vision of Israel's future.Trade ReviewExtravagantly denounced and praised. * New York Times *Perhaps books combining passion and erudition don't change political situations, but if they did, this one would count as a landmark. -- Eric Hobsbawm * Observer *[Sand's] quiet earthquake of a book is shaking historical faith in the link between Judaism and Israel. -- Rafael Behr * Observer *Anyone interested in understanding the contemporary Middle East should read this book. -- Tony JudtNo discussion of the region any longer seems complete without acknowledgement of this book. * Independent on Sunday *A radical dismantling of a national myth. * Guardian *

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Book SynopsisThe definitive biography of Israel's founder by one of Israel's most celebrated historians. As the founder of Israel, David Ben-Gurion long ago secured his reputation as a leading figure of the twentieth century. Determined from an early age to create a Jewish state, he took control of the Zionist movement, declared Israel's independence, and navigated his country through wars, controversies and remarkable achievements. In this definitive biography, Tom Segev uses previously unreleased archival material to give an original, nuanced account that transcends the myths and legends that have built up around the man. He reveals Ben-Gurion's secret negotiations with the British on the eve of Israel's independence, his willingness to countenance the forced transfer of Arab neighbors, his relative indifference to Jerusalem, and his occasional eccentric moments – from UFO sightings to plans for Israel to acquire territory in South America. The result is a full and startling portrait of a man who sought a state 'at any cost' – at times through risk-taking, violence, and unpredictability, and at other times through compromise, moderation and reason. Segev's Ben-Gurion is neither a saint nor a villain but a twentieth-century leader whose iron will and complex temperament left a contentious legacy, and one of the world's most intractable national conflicts. Praise for A State at Any Cost: 'A must for anybody interested in both the glorious and the dark pages of the history of Zionism and Israel, as reflected throughout the life and times of the Jewish State's most important founding father' SAUL FRIEDLÄNDER 'The story of a hard-headed, pragmatic and ruthless politician, told without sentimentality or nostalgia. It also serves as a key to understanding today's Israel, which is still very much Ben-Gurion's creation' THE TIMES 'Fascinating... A masterly portrait of a titanic yet unfulfilled man... This is a gripping study of power, and the loneliness of power' THE ECONOMISTTrade ReviewTom Segev's meticulously researched and most elegantly written new biography of David Ben-Gurion is a must for anybody interested in both the glorious and the dark pages of the history of Zionism and Israel, as reflected throughout the life and times of the Jewish State's most important founding father -- Saul Friedländer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Nazi Germany and the Jews and Where Memory LeadsIn the course of six years of research, Segev [...] discovered a leader fraught with dramatic contrasts... The author has come up with significant historical revelations' * Ofer Aderet, Haaretz *Fascinating... A masterly portrait of a titanic yet unfulfilled man... This is a gripping study of power, and the loneliness of power' * Economist *[A] carefully researched and nonjudgemental biography... Tom Segev's A State at Any Cost aptly summarizes the lodestar of Ben-Gurion's life' -- Avraham Avi-hai, Jerusalem PostDeserves to be the definitive biography of Ben-Gurion. It is the story of a hard-headed, pragmatic and ruthless politician, told without sentimentality or nostalgia. It also serves as a key to understanding today's Israel, which is still very much Ben-Gurion's creation * The Times *Tom Segev has completed a monumental task. The work includes the research of a true detective -- Avner Cohen, author of Israel and the Bomb[A] body of work that has no equal either for the brilliance of his storytelling or the ironies of his analysis * London Review of Books *Without doubt one of the best biographies to have been written about David Ben-Gurion... Segev manages to hold the reader's attention' * Literary Review *The book offers an appreciation of the life of an extraordinary man and an understanding of the values, political attitudes and the very concept of the Zionist State... For readers with an interest in the subject, the book is worthwhile, informative and rewarding' * Pennant Magazine. *Authoritative... [Segev] gives us a many-sided character, showing Ben-Gurion's strengths and weaknesses, great moments and cruelties, successes and failures. If you want a balanced account of what has long been a controversial state, this is a good place to start, and Segev is already well known for the excellence of his writing on Israel' * Sorted. *

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Book SynopsisAfter witnessing first-hand the death throes of this rich and captivating tradition, Richard Hamilton has tracked down the last few remaining storytellers of Morocco, recording stories that are replete with the mysteries and beauty of the Maghreb. Marrakech is the heart and lifeblood of Morocco's ancient storytelling tradition. For nearly a thousand years, storytellers have gathered in the Jemaa el Fna, the legendary square of the city, to recount ancient folktales and fables to rapt audiences. But this unique chain of oral tradition that has passed seamlessly from generation to generation is teetering on the brink of extinction. The competing distractions of television, movies and the internet have drawn the crowds away from the storytellers and few have the desire to learn the stories and continue their legacy. Moroccan tales have a huge educational, religious and moral impact on their audience, offering timeless values and guidance to all who listen. With their passing we risk losing something of Morocco's national psyche and also part of the world's tangible heritage. Those who have listened to the storytellers at Marrakech first-hand have witnessed something that is no longer part of this world, a treasure as precious as the planet's most endangered species and of immeasurable importance to humanity.Trade ReviewInspiring . . . brilliantly illustrates an ancient oral tradition in my country. I cannot but commend your untiring, meticulous work. Building on stories gathered directly from some of our most renowned storytellers, you have introduced readers to a time-honoured Moroccan tradition. -- Mohammed VI, King of MoroccoCharming, fantastical and lively collection. Like a genie emerging from a flask, The Last Storytellers produces a startling amount of pleasure from some very small packages.... Both men [author and interpreter] deserve much praise for the successful outcome of this endeavour. * Times Literary Supplement *Hamilton presents readers with a precious gift: a collection of content not quite like anything we have ever heard or seen before. Readers who might never reach Marrakech can find their own oasis by making a cup of mint tea and giving thanks for these enchanting stories rescued from oblivion. * New York Journal of Books *Think of this as a collection of Grimm’s fairy tales with plenty of added North African charm. * Lonely Planet *Hamilton does not only offer his readers a valuable, enchanting, interesting and entertaining read but also launches a cri de coeur to rescue this vanishing and traditional form of storytelling as it slowly falls into the abyss of forgetfulness. * North South Magazine *This is addictive material. * The National *A truly remarkable piece of literature. * Essential Travel Blog *Table of ContentsForeword: Circles in the Jemaa el Fna xiii Author’s Note Acknowledgements Introduction The Red Lantern The King and His Prime Minister The Gazelle with the Golden Horns The Imam and the Wager The Girl Who Fell in Love with the Hermit The Birth of the Sahara The Trials of Noureddine The Sultan and His Vizier’s Wife The Queen and the King, the Son of Amelkani Nour and the Sultan The Laundryman and the Fountain The Man Who Went Against His Father’s Wishes The Vizier and the Chicken The Fakir and the Frog The Two Hunchbacks El-Ghaliya Bent Mansour The Land and the Treasure The Statue and the Robber The Tailor, the Princess and the Eagle The Sultan and the Thief The Eyes of Ben’Adi The Shoemaker and the Bird The Vizier and the Barber Seven Coins and a Donkey The Sultan’s Daughter and the Leper The Nobleman and His Three Sons The Vengeance of Allah The Woman and the Black Cat Aicha Rmada The Traveller and the Pasha’s Daughter The Girl from Fes One Hundred and One Beheadings The Three Figs Suleiman, the Stork and the City of Gold The Woman and the Devil The Bird from the Land of Gabour The Pomegranate and the Talking Drum The Date Gatherers The Rich Woman and the Sacks of Corn Postscript

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Book SynopsisA detailed revelation of what was eaten in the court of the Eastern Roman Empire, accompanied by colourful descriptions of the sights and smells of Constantinople and its marketplaces. For centuries, the food and culinary delights of the Byzantine empire - centred on Constantinople - have captivated the west, although it appeared that very little information had been passed down to us. Tastes of Byzantium now reveals in astonishing detail, for the first time, what was eaten in the court of the Eastern Roman Empire - and how it was cooked. Fusing the spices of the Romans with the seafood and simple local food of the Aegean and Greek world, the cuisine of the Byzantines was unique and a precursor to much of the food of modern Turkey and Greece. Bringing this vanished cuisine to life in vivid and sensual detail, Dalby describes the sights and smells of Constantinople and its marketplaces, relates travellers' tales and paints a comprehensive picture of the recipes and customs of the empire and their relationship to health and the seasons, love and medicine. For food-lovers and historians alike, Tastes of Byzantium is both essential and riveting - an extraordinary illumination of everyday life in the Byzantine world.Trade ReviewA fascinating read, with its descriptions of the glittering centre of an empire. Along with his portrait of Byzantines feasting on spiced wine and sugary sweets, Dalby includes many colourful observations. -- Charles Perry * Cornucopia *A delightful book... offers a novel and humane approach to the Byzantines and their culture, and one that should appeal to Byzantinists as well as general readers. * The Bryn Mawr Classical Review *This pioneering book... is an enthusiastic compilation of fascinating facts about what people in Constantinople ate during the eleven centuries of the Byzantine Empire. -- Peter Clark * Asian Affairs Journal *The only book in English concerning the history of the very elusive cuisine of Byzantium. Dalby - classicist, historian, and aficionado of linguistics - brings impressive credentials to this pioneering study... Tastes of Byzantium bubbles and roils with tales, anecdotes, and just plain gore. * Culinary Historians of New York *Table of ContentsPreface An Introduction to Byzantium Tastes and Smells of the City Foods and Markets of Constantinople Water and Wine, Monks and Travellers Rulers of the World The Texts The Eight Flavours Categories of Foods Humoral and Dietary Qualities of Foods A Dietary Calendar Instructions and Recipes A Phrase-Book of Byzantine Foods and Aromas Bibliography Index

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