Middle Eastern history Books

Book SynopsisAvi Shlaim was born in Baghdad in 1945; grew up in Israel; and received his university education at Cambridge and the LSE. He is a Fellow of St. Antony's College, a member of the British Academy and a Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford. Previous books include Collusion Across the Jordan: King Abdullah, The Zionist Movement, and the Partition of Palestine (Winner of the Political Studies Association's WJM Mackenzie Prize, 1988), War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History (1995) and The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World (2000).

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Book SynopsisRumi is the greatest mystic poet to have written in Persian, and the Masnavi, written in six books, is his masterpiece. It conveys a message of divine love in entertaining stories and homilies. The focus of Book Four is with the mystical knowledge of the spiritual guide.Table of ContentsIntroduction Note on the Translation Select Bibliography Chronology The Masnavi: Book 4 Explanatory Notes Glossary

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Book SynopsisRejecting the conventional Western interpretation of Middle Eastern history as an offshoot of global power politics, the author contends that the region's experience is the culmination of long-existing indigenous trends, passions and patterns of behaviour, and that foremost among these is Islam's millenarian imperial tradition.Trade Review"In Islamic Imperialism Efraim Karsh argues for the existence of an Islamic imperial drive and traces it from Muhammad's time to current Islamist aggressions. One can hardly imagine a thesis with larger implications for prosecuting the war on terror."—Daniel Pipes -- Daniel Pipes“Only a shrewd and talented revisionist, a professor with curiosity and nerve, could take on the clichés of Middle East scholarship and insist that they be reconsidered. That describes Efraim Karsh, a much-published and much-admired professor at the University of London. His new book, Islamic Imperialism deserves serious consideration by anyone who cares about this debate. He challenges not only our favourite ideas about the Middle East but even our notions of imperialism. . . . Karsh’s view of rising Islamic imperialism chills the blood. Multiculturalism looks different through the lens of his scholarship, and so does the future for global politics.”—Robert Fulford, Canada National Post -- Robert Fulford * Canada National Post *"Karsh's lively, clearly written and well-researched account should have an appeal beyond an academic audience. The crisp manner with which he disposes of accepted wisdom will delight the reader. And in laying to rest the victim theory, he restores a measure of dignity to the Middle East."—Ralph Amelan, Jerusalem Post -- Ralph Amelan * Jerusalem Post *

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Book SynopsisChristopher Phillips is Reader in International Relations at Queen Mary, University of London, U.K and associate fellow at Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme. He has written for The Guardian, The Washington Post, Newsweek and CNN, among others. He has also made numerous media appearances on outlets including BBC Newsnight, Radio 4's Today Programme, BBC News, Al-Jazeera, Sky News and Channel 4 News. He is the author of The Battle for Syria: International Rivalry in the new Middle East (2016).Michael Stephens is a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), and an Associate Fellow at RUSI where he previously worked as the Research Fellow for Middle East Studies. Michael was seconded to the Foreign and Commonwealth in 2017 serving as the Senior Research Analyst for Lebanon and Syria. He is a regular broadcast commentator and has written for many of the world's top news publications.Trade ReviewA timely and trusted guide - smart thinking from respected scholars who understand the past and provide impressive insight into the future of a fast-changing map of Britain and the Middle East. Here are the right questions, and the right kind of answers with rigorous analysis and advice. * Lyse Doucet, BBC Chief International Correspondent *Table of ContentsList of Contributors Map of the Middle East Acknowledgements 1. Introduction Christopher Phillips & Michael Stephens PART ONE: Still searching for a role – The UK in the Middle East from East of Suez to Brexit 2. Britain and the Middle East since 1971 Rosemary Hollis 3. Britain’s Foreign Policy Landscape in the Post-Brexit Era Michael Clarke 4. Still Special? The UK and US in the Middle East Michael Stephens PART TWO: Principles and Pragmatism – the debates over the UK's Middle East priorities 5. The third wheel? “Values” in British foreign policy in the Middle East James Lynch 6. Prosperity David Butter 7. Security Louise Kettle PART THREE: Britain and the non-Arab powers 8. Turkey Bill Park 9. Israel Ian Black 10. Iran - Bridging Opportunities and Challenges Sanam Vakil PART FOUR: Britain and the Middle Eastern Arab states 11. Syria and the Levant Christopher Phillips 12. Iraq Jack Watling 13. The Gulf Tobias Borck and Michael Stephens 14. Egypt Emma El-Badawy 15. Conclusion Christopher Phillips & Michael Stephens

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Book Synopsis"A deeply thoughtful, gripping and scrupulous book told in Sayarer's trademark style from the saddle and the roadside" CAROLINE EDENBy a winner of the Stanford Dolman Award for Travel Writing"The best travelogues should make you question your preconceptions of a place and force you to engage with what the author is saying. Türkiye succeeds on both fronts" Cycle Magazine"We need writers who will go all the way for a story, and tell it with fire. Sayarer is a marvellous example" HORATIO CLAREOn the eve of its centenary year and elections that will shape the coming generations, Julian Emre Sayarer sets out to cycle across Türkiye, from the Aegean coast to the Armenian border.Meeting Turkish farmers and workers, Syrian refugees and Russians avoiding conscription, the journey brings to life a living, breathing, cultural tapestry of the place where Asia, Africa and Europe converge. The result is a love letter to a country and its neighbours - one that offers a clear-eyed view of Türkiye and its place in a changing world. Yet the route is also marked by tragedy, as Sayarer cycles along a major fault line just months before one of the most devastating earthquakes in the region's modern history.Always engaged with the big historical and political questions that inform so much of his writing, Sayarer uses his bicycle and the roadside encounters it allows to bring everything back to the human level. At the end of his journey we are left with a deeper understanding of the country, as well as the essential and universal nature of political power, both in Türkiye and closer to home."A persuasive corrective to western views of a place he loves" GuardianTrade ReviewA persuasive corrective to western views of a place he loves * Guardian *The best travelogues should make you question your preconceptions of a place and force you to engage with what the author is saying. Turkiye succeeds on both fronts. * Cycle Magazine *

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Book SynopsisKelly Eads joined the 101st Airborne Division soon after 9/11, his experience reflecting the patriotism and commitment of so many young men and women who responded to the attack. He deployed to Iraq twice with the 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment. Early in their deployment to Iraq, the 2nd Battalion brought the fight directly to the enemy by setting up patrol bases in the local areas where they lived and operated. Soon they built a reputation for themselves, becoming known to the enemy as the Black Hearts—The 502nd had been distinguished on the battlefield by black hearts on their helmets since World War II. Their Scout Platoon became known as Painted Guns due to their practice of camouflaging their rifles.During Eads’ deployments, the battalion would experience thousands of Improvised Explosive Devices and firefights. They would spend countless hours in blistering 120-degree desert heat, controlling roads and preventing enemy freedom of movement; and would dedicate months to hunting enemy mortar teams and terror cells. With the help of Dan Morgan, an Infantry officer who deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan as a commander and operations officer, Eads takes the reader on a rollercoaster of combat experiences during the hunt for the most violent terrorist in Iraq, Abū Muṣʻab Zarqāwī, bringing to life the painstaking and horrid details of combat in a sectarian war. He tells the story of the soldiers’ camaraderie, built through adversity, and the love of family that sustained them.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Military Terms and Ranks Introduction Prologue Chapter 1 A Call to Serve Chapter 2 The Legacy of the 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles” Chapter 3 Training for War Chapter 4 Deployment to Hell Chapter 5 The Grim Reaper (a.k.a. Route Motorhead) Chapter 6 Kill Zone Chapter 7 “Blue on Blue”: The Chaos and Confusion of War Chapter 8 Patrol Base Gator Swamp Chapter 9 Operation Glory Light Chapter 10 Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown Chapter 11 Offense is the Best Defense Chapter 12 Battalion Scout Reconnaissance/Sniper Platoon Chapter 13 Clearing the Chakas Chapter 14 Keeping up the Pressure Chapter 15 Heading Home Chapter 16 The Kitchen Table Battlefield Epilogue Appendix I In Memoriam Appendix II Memorial Photos

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Book SynopsisAn award-winning account of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz’s most controversial novel and the fierce debates that it provoked Naguib Mahfouz’s novel Children of the Alley has been in the spotlight since it was first published in Egypt in 1959. It has been at times banned and at others allowed, sold sometimes under the counter and sometimes openly on the street, often pirated and only recently legally reprinted. It has inspired anxiety among the secular authorities, rage within the religious right, and a drawing of battle lines among Arab intellectuals and writers. It dogged Mahfouz like a curse throughout the remainder of his career, led to his attempted assassination, and sparked a public debate that continues to this day, even after the author’s death in 2006. It is Egypt’s iconic novel, in whose mirror millions have seen themselves, their society, and even the universe, some finding truth, others blasphemy.In this award-winning account, Mohamed Shoair traces the story of Mahfouz’s novel as a cultural and political object, from its first publication to the present via Mahfouz’s award of the Nobel prize for literature in 1988 and the attempt on his life in 1994. He presents the arguments that swirled about the novel and the wide cast of Egyptian figures, from state actors to secular intellectuals and Islamists, who took part in them. He also contextualizes the interactions among the principal characters, interactions that have done much to shape the country’s present.Extensively researched and written in a lucid, accessible style, The Story of the Banned Book is both a gripping work of investigative journalism and a window onto some of the fiercest debates around culture and religion to have taken place in Egyptian society over the past half-century.Trade Review“The Story of the Banned Book is highly researched investigative journalism at its best. . . . This is a fascinating study of the intricate dynamics of the intersectionality of the political, religious, social, and cultural life in modern Egypt.” —Arab Studies Quarterly“[A] forensic literary investigation. . . . Like any good detective—and Shoair is an exceptional one—he presents the reader with a fluent intellectual thriller, a cross-over book that will interest scholars of Arabic literature and intellectual historians as much as it will delight the general reader for whom it is mostly addressed. . . . The Story of the Banned Book is not only a literary and intellectual achievement, but also a methodological triumph.” —Yoav Di-Capua, The Journal of North African Studies"A thrilling thread on Naguib Mahfouz, literary rivalries, and Egyptian politics as they stood in the mid 20th century, pulled through the needle’s eye of the story of a single novel."— M. Lynx Qualey, ArabLit Quarterly"It is rare that one book documenting the life of another book sheds so much light on the literature, politics, religious feuds, and even cinematic trends of a couple of generations"—Peter Theroux, Middle East Quarterly“Diving deep into the various interpretations and defenses of Mahfouz's most famous novel . . . Shoair's investigation is a fascinating insight into the lack of literary freedom in Egypt at the time.” —Amelia Smith, Middle East Monitor"Readers invested in the ongoing debates about book banning will find this to be a worthy resource."—Publishers Weekly“The plot is more compelling than most literature I have read.” —Elliott Colla, Georgetown University"[E]xcellent and thought-provoking"—David Tresilian, Al-Ahram Weekly“The joy of this book is its evocation of time and place, and the way it seeks out what may be absent or forgotten from the stances of intellectuals. However Shoair does not recount gossip; rather, his concern is verifiable knowledge.” —al-Quds al-‘Arabi"A study of literary censorship and of the fight between artistic expression and religious and political authority in Egypt from the 1950s through today."—BULAQ“Outstanding” —al-Ahram“Shoair digs into the passion of how this iconic novel was written”—Donia Kamal, author of Cigarette Number Seven"Shoair’s meticulous, forensic account of the fierce controversies and confrontations provoked by the publication and censorship of Mahfouz’s notorious novel takes the reader on a page-turning journey through the labyrinth of postcolonial Egypt’s fraught and high-stakes cultural politics and offers nuanced critical insight into the author's work. A perfect marriage of literary and cultural history, and investigative journalism, and masterfully translated by Humphrey Davies, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding an entire era of modern Egyptian history and its place in contemporary global politics."—Samah Selim, Rutgers University

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Book SynopsisFieldnotes from Celtic Palestine embodies a new type of sociological writing that weaves ethnography with memoir as well as fusing other convention-breaking literary forms, styles and devices. In its innovative analysis of the rhetorical power of the creative works of four Celtic witnesses to the conflict in Palestine, three Irish and one Welsh, it explores how the creative practitioner may effectively engage in political persuasion and activism without compromising their art. The book also reflects upon a series of encounters in the field between the author and various individuals political prisoners, diplomats, members of terrorist organisations, members of the security services, journalists and politicians, and also ordinary people making their lives in a society profoundly shaped by brutal ethno-political occupation and conflict. Amongst these encounters is that of being served tea by the daughter of a Hamas suicide bomber, and that of being taken to Jewish settlements regarded as illegal under international law.

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Book SynopsisOver 5 million Syrian refugees entered Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon due to the civil war. This report examines the labor market for refugees in these countries. In Turkey, a barrier was speaking Turkish; in Jordan and Lebanon, the refugees'' arrival exacerbated existing economic slowdowns. Working legally was a challenge for all. Recommendations are tailored to each country in order to improve the socioeconomic environment for all.

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Book SynopsisRobert Fisk’s bestselling eyewitness account of the events that have shaped the Middle East is alive with vivid reporting and incisive historical analysis. The history of the Middle East is an epic story of tragedy, betrayal and world-shaking events. It is a story that Robert Fisk has been reporting for over thirty years. His masterful narrative spans the most volatile regions of the Middle East, chronicling with both rage and compassion the death by deceit of tens of thousands of Muslims, Christians and Jews. Robert Fisk’s remarkable history is also the tale of a journalist at war – learning of the 9/11 attacks while aboard a passenger jet, reporting from a bombed-out Baghdad, interviewing Osama bin Laden – and of the courage and frustration of a life spent writing the first draft of history.Trade Review‘For sheer bravery, dazzling prose, three interviews with Osama bin Laden and an unrivalled collection of awards won over three decades, there is nobody to match Robert Fisk. This book is his testament.’ Sunday Times ‘Brilliant…powerfully written.’ Independent on Sunday ‘A remarkable book.’ New Statesman ‘Fisk writes with a marvellous resource of image and language. His investigative reporting is lethally painstaking.’ Neal Ascherson, Independent ‘His forte is straight reporting, such as his three interviews with Osama bin Laden. At least as good are his meetings with Saddam Hussein, Khomeini and Sadeq Khalkhali, the hanging judge of the Iranian revolution, and his close-ups of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the launch of Saddam's war against Iran, an ambush by Islamists of an Algerian police patrol, and a lift into trouble in an Apache attack helicopter on the Iraq/Turkey border.’ Guardian ‘A mammoth and magisterial work, the definitive summation of what has gone wrong in the West’s foreign policies towards Arabia.’ Scottish Sunday Herald ‘A stimulating and absorbing book, by a man who speaks Arabic, who has known the region better than most, and has met the leading players, from bin Laden to Ahmad Chalabi. A formidable production.’ New York Times ‘Full of furious, vivid and highly personalised writing…An important book by an intrepid and talented writer.’ Literary Review ‘Vivid, graphic, intense and very personal…this is a book of unquestionable importance.’ Washington Post

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Book SynopsisA leading expert delivers a powerful critique of the forces behind the Gaza war, tracing its roots to decades of rightward Israeli shifts, US complicity and global fallout. Gilbert Achcar unpacks the genocideâs causes, consequences and the failures of the liberal world order.

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Book SynopsisTHE THIRD EDITION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER, REVISED AND UPDATED''A rich, galloping narrative that spans the Arab world...outstanding, gripping and exuberant...full of flamboyant character sketches, witty asides and magisterial scholarship, that explains much of what we need to know about the world today'' Simon Sebag Montefiore''Anyone who seeks to understand why the Islamic world bears a grudge against the West should read The Arabs'' Sir Alaistair HorneStarting with the Ottoman conquests in the sixteenth century, this landmark book follows the story of the Arabs through the era of European imperialism and the Superpower rivalries of the Cold War, to the present age of unipolar American power. Drawing on the writings and eyewitness accounts of those who lived through the tumultuous years of Arab history, The Arabs balances different voices - politicians, intellectuals, students, men and women, poets and novelists, famous, infamous and the completely unknown - to give a rich, complex sense of life over nearly five centuries.Rogan''s book is remarkable for its geographical sweep, covering the Arab world from North Africa through the Arabian Peninsula, and for the depth in which it explores every facet of modern Arab history. Charting the evolution of Arab identity from Ottomanism to Arabism to Islamism, it covers themes including the conflict between national independence and foreign domination, the Arab-Israeli struggle and the peace process, Abdel Nasser and the rise of Arab Nationalism, the political and economic power of oil and the conflict between secular and Islamic values.This multilayered, fascinating and definitive work is the essential guide to understanding the history of the modern Arab world - and its future.Trade ReviewIt is a fascinating [story], and exceedingly well told. * Economist *engrossing and capacious... compulsively readable -- Robert Irwin * Guardian *Rogan gives a lucid account of political developments throughout the Arab lands... One of the special features of this book is that it draws on Arab writings (by memoirists, journalists and others) to give an idea of how the Arabs have experienced their own history -- Noel Malcolm * Sunday Telegraph *Anyone who seeks to understand why the Islamic world bears a grudge against the West should read The Arabs. Few scholars know their subject better than Eugene Rogan, while even fewer are capable of rendering so complex a subject so engagingly readable. It is a joy to open, and a deprivation to put down. -- Sir Alistair Horne, author of A Savage War of PeaceA rich, galloping narrative that spans the Arab world...outstanding, gripping and exuberant...full of flamboyant character sketches, witty asides and magisterial scholarship, that explains much of what we need to know about the world today -- Simon Sebag Montefiore * Financial Times *With eloquence, verve, and understanding, Eugene Rogan rightly reminds us that the world, and the Arabs themselves, need to remember the past. If we are to build a better relationship between the Arab world and the West, if we are to avoid making the same mistakes again and again, we need to know Arab history from its many high points to its low ones. I can think of no better guide on this crucially important journey than The Arabs. -- Margaret Macmillan, author of Paris 1919 and Nixon and MaoThe masterly management of the material goes along with plain English, free of academic jargon. -- Hooky Walker * Asian Affairs *

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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 Synopsis'An epic tale . . . told relentlessly well. If you want to read a serious account of the price of Zionism, and a sobering review of Israel's new role as conqueror and occupier, then Hirst is your man.' Christopher HitchensA myth-breaking general history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, The Gun and the Olive Branch traces events right back to the 1880s to show how Arab violence, although often cruel and fanatical, is a response to the challenge of repeated aggression.Banned from six Arab countries, kidnapped twice, David Hirst, former Middle East correspondent of the Guardian, is the ideal chronicler of this terrible and seemingly insoluble conflict. The new edition of this 'definitive' (Irish Times) study brings the story right up to date. Amongst the many topics that are subjected to Hirst's piercing analysis are: the Oslo peace process, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, the destabilising effect of Jewish settlement in the te

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Book Synopsis'Profoundly powerful not only in observations and stories, but in how courageously and carefully it speaks to our present moment' Madeleine Thien, Guardian Over three years, journalist and novelist Ben Ehrenreich travelled to the West Bank's largest cities and smallest villages, and stayed with the Palestinian families who live there. Here, he weaves together the stories of these women, men and children: the extremes to which they are pushed, the daily absurdities and tragedies they face, and the strategies they construct to survive. What follows is a testimony, a provocation, and an unflinching act of witness. 'I am gripped... Ehrenreich lived with many of those he writes about, and so his story is wonderfully intimate... I feel more like I'm involved in a pacey novel than struggling to swallow yet more unpalatable truths' Observer 'The myriad ordeals suffered by the Palestinian people during the last eighty years are minutely reported here. It's a chronicle of their daily lives. Read it! It recognises and respects hope' John Berger 'Capture[s] events unfolding on the West Bank with sympathy and restraint' Colm Tóibín, Irish TimesTrade ReviewPowerful... Palestinian lives matter to Ehrenreich, and he writes about them from the bottom-up, with hard-boiled lyricism, novelistic intimacy and a revolutionary's sense of urgency. [This] is more than a work of journalism. It is a freedom song, burning with humanity... Heartbreaking and joyful -- Adam ShatzA chillingly beautiful, albeit heartbreaking, chronicle of Palestinian life in the West Bank. It's written with immense empathy, but is equally grounded, and urgently real -- Yasmine El Rashidi * Guardian *The myriad ordeals suffered by the Palestinian people during the last eighty years are minutely reported here. It's a chronicle of their daily lives. Read it! It recognises and respects hope -- John BergerBen Ehrenreich's rendition of the Palestinian experience is powerful, deep and heartbreaking, so much closer to the ground than the Middle East reporting we usually see. I wish there were more writers as brave -- Adam Hochschild, author * To End All Wars: A Story of Loyalty and Rebellion, 1914-1918 *An astonishing book. And that's shocking in itself: Ben Ehrenreich takes a detailed, up-close look at the lives of people whose ordeal, though relentless, remains, most of the time, just below the radar of our governments and mass media. We generally pride ourselves on our willingness to speak for the disadvantaged, but remain truculent and evasive in the case of Palestinians. There can be no more excuses, if The Way to the Spring is given the widespread attention it deserves, for such uncharacteristic moral cowardice -- Robert WyattI loved The Way To The Spring. Ehrenreich is excellent on the nuances of suffering and survival. The book is to be read with acceptance, subtlety and an open mind - just as it was written -- BidishaSo much has been written about the occupation of the Palestinian territories by Israel but rarely with such vividness, eloquence and success in illuminating complex historical and political realities. The Way to the Spring is a superbly intelligent, informative and critical book about one of the fundamental issues of our time -- Raja ShehadehWritten with fire in the belly and a hawk's eye for the telling fact. The Way to the Spring is an unforgettable read but not an easy one, full of uncomfortable and inconvenient truths. Ehrenreich's great talent is for testimony; the individual human stories that disrupt gross injustice by asking questions about morality, legality and the actual historical record. Ehrenreich's non-fiction debut is a powerful and unwavering pursuit of the through-lines of freedom -- Rachel HolmesMr Ehrenreich did not set out to write an objective book; he does not even think it is possible. This is simply a description, details [...] of what the facts on the ground look like if you are one of a particular group of Palestinians in the West Bank. It should be read by friends and foes of Israel alike * Economist *

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Book SynopsisA History of Jerusalem should be read, not only by travellers and potential travellers in Jerusalem, but by all of us.' Stephen Tummin, Daily TelegraphJerusalem has probably cast more of a spell over the human imagination than any other city in the world.Held by believers to contain the site where Abraham offered up Isaac, the place of the crucifixion of Christ and the rock from which the prophet Muhammed ascended to heaven, Jerusalem has been celebrated and revered for centuries by Jews, Christians and Muslims. Such is the symbolic power of this ancient city that its future status poses a major obstacle to a comprehensive regional peace in the Middle East.In this comprehensive and elegantly written work, Karen Armstrong traces the turbulent history of the city from the prehistoric era to the present day.Trade Review‘A wonderful book: wise and compassionate, lucid and intelligent, balanced and fair.’William Dalrymple ‘A triumph’Ian Gilmour, London Review of Books ‘Splendid … essential reading for Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.’ John Ash, Washington Post ‘Deftly told … Armstrong is a knowledgable guide, and this is a sober and articulate tour of a complex subject and a city where, as she puts it, history is a dimension of the present.’ James Owen, Literary Review

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Book SynopsisIn Pathfinders: The Golden Age of Arabic Science, Jim al-Khalili celebrates the forgotten pioneers who helped shape our understanding of the world. For over 700 years the international language of science was Arabic. Surveying the golden age of Arabic science, Jim Al-Khalili reintroduces such figures as the Iraqi physicist Ibn al-Haytham, who practised the modern scientific method over half a century before Bacon; al-Khwarizmi, the greatest mathematician of the medieval world; and Abu Rayhan al-Biruni, a Persian polymath to rival Leonardo da Vinci. ''Jim Al-Khalili has a passion for bringing to a wider audience not just the facts of science but its history ... Just as the legacy of Copernicus and Darwin belongs to all of us, so does that of Ibn Sina and Ibn al-Haytham''  Independent ''He has brought a great story out of the shadows''   Literary Review ''His command of Arabic and mathemaTrade ReviewBrings alive the bubbling invention and delighted curiosity of the Islamic world ... his command of Arabic mathematical physics invests his story with sympathy as well as authority -- Tim Radford * Guardian *A fascinating and user-friendly guide to this whole scientific movement -- Noel Malcolm * Seven, Sunday Telegraph *Jim Al-Khalili has a passion for bringing to a wider audience not just the facts of science but its history ... Just as the legacy of Copernicus and Darwin belongs to all of us, so does that of Ibn Sina and Ibn al-Haytham. To think otherwise, as this book so powerfully reveals, is to do disservice to the tradition to which they belong -- Kenan Malik * Independent *Spry, informative and timely ... Al-Khalili takes the reader through a brisk survey of the highlights of the period -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *A fascinating introduction to a neglected area. His approachable style and ability to distil extensive knowledge into simple narrative makes Pathfinders an absorbing read -- Siobhan Murphy * Metro *Enjoyable and informative ... provides ample evidence for the compatibility of Islam and science -- Sameer Rahim * Daily Telegraph *He has brought a great story out of the shadows * Literary Review *This captivating book is a timely reminder of the debt owed by the West to the intellectual achievements of Arab, Persian and Muslim scholars * The Times *

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Book SynopsisBeyond the affluent centre of Paris and other French cities, in the deprived banlieues, a war is going on. This is the French Intifada, a guerrilla war between the French state and the former subjects of its Empire, for whom the mantra of 'liberty, equality, fraternity' conceals a bitter history of domination, oppression, and brutality. This war began in the early 1800s, with Napoleon's lust for martial adventure, strategic power and imperial preeminence, and led to the armed colonization of Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, and decades of bloody conflict, all in the name of 'civilization'. Here, against the backdrop of the Arab Spring, Andrew Hussey walks the front lines of this war - from the Gare du Nord in Paris to the souks of Marrakesh and the mosques of Tangier - to tell the strange and complex story of the relationship between secular, republican France and the Muslim world of North Africa. The result is a completely new portrait of an old nation. Combining a fascinating and compulsively readable mix of history, politics and literature with Hussey's years of personal experience travelling across the Arab World, The French Intifada reveals the role played by the countries of the Maghreb in shaping French history, and explores the challenge being mounted by today's dispossessed heirs to the colonial project: a challenge that is angrily and violently staking a claim on France's future.Trade ReviewThere is some terrific and chilling reporting [here] and Hussey is at his best when on the streets... Provocative... an important new book * Economist *Compelling... Hussey makes a strong case that France's contemporary malaise can only be understood in the light of [its] tragic history... Fascinating and hugely readable -- Matthew Campbell * Sunday Times *Vivid, arresting, and striking... Hussey is a talented writer, and knows his subject... Nuanced and persuasive * Guardian *Rigorous, perceptive, clear-eyed, colourful and powerful, Andrew Hussey's The French Intifada is an important, and highly readable, book which should be read by anyone interested in France today, and in the broader question of Islam in Europe in the 21st century -- Jason BurkeDisturbing and provocative -- Rupert Edis * Daily Telegraph**** *A refreshing account [that] blends colourful narrative history with lively reportage and analysis... [This is] a good introduction to the most sensitive issues of race, religion, citizenship and history that grip modern France -- Tony Barber * Financial Times *[It] mixes lively street reportage with the history of two brutal centuries in France's former Maghreb territories... This is strong stuff -- Charles Bremner * New Statesman *A vivid illumination of the ongoing, painful and perhaps insoluble French dilemma * Kirkus *Hussey stresses the dire economic circumstances that prevail and the toxic mix of big ambitions, poor education and refusal to believe in hard graft -- Michael Burleigh * The Times *[This book] deserves our admiration -- Nick Fraser * Observer *Hussey is an engaging guide... writing with authority and humour about everything from Zinedine Zidane to architecture... A fascinating and enjoyable read * Irish Examiner *Pithy... [with] effective potted histories of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco -- Farah Nayeri * Independent *Extremely readable... a page-turner... Highly recommended * Morning Star *Urgent and brilliant... Superb writing on the complexities of race, religion and immigration that situates this in the legacies of Empire and colonialism -- Mark Perryman * Counterfire *Lively and well paced -- Natasha Lerner * TLS *Indispensable -- Patrick Marnham * 'Books of the Year' Spectator *Excellence recurs in The French Intifada, where a lust for travel and understanding of the past produces a book of disturbing power. [Hussey] brings a depth of knowledge to a study of the legacy of French colonial sojourns in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, making his travelogue read like a literary history-cum-dark documentary thriller -- Tom Adair 'Travel book of the year' * Scotsman *Fascinating and hugely readable -- Matthew Campbell ‘Pick of the Paperbacks’ * Sunday Times *Andrew Hussey knows France and its colonial history better than most French people. He tells the ugly truth... He offers no solutions, but his willingness to delve into other belief systems is a worth-while, sobering journey. French officials should read Hussey's book -- Lara Marlowe * Irish Times *Fascinating -- Charles Moore * Spectator *

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Book SynopsisIn this extensively updated edition of a book that was widely praised on its first publication nearly a decade ago, the acclaimed foreign correspondent and author Charles Glass, brings the the story of Syria up to date. In these pages he looks at the way the Assad government emerged victorious from a conflict that has left the country in ruins, wide swathes of its population immiserated, and a range of conflicts still unresolved.The nuances of the Syrian civil war have never been well-understood in the West, least of all, it seems, by governments in the US and Europe, who, anticipating Assad's departure, made it a condition of any negotiated settlement. The consequences of that miscalculation, Charles Glass contends in this illuminating survey, contributed greatly to the disaster we witness today.Glass has reported extensively from the Middle East, and travelled frequently in Syria, over several decades. Here he melds together reportage, analysis and history to provide an accessible overview of the origins and permutations defining the conflict, situating it clearly in the overall crisis of the region. His voice, elegant and concise, humane and richly-informed, is a vital antidote to the sloganizing that shapes so much commentary, and policy, concerning Syria.

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Book SynopsisThe Holocaust has become sanctified as a one-off historical tragedy that has little to do with our own times except as a warning of what could happen again in some theoretical dystopian future. There seems to be a large blind spot for the lethal antisemitism that has long blighted Muslim countries and remains prevalent today throughout the Middle East and the world. This failure of collective vision has been responsible for inflicting incalculable and avoidable suffering on generations of both Jews and Arabs ? as was vividly illustrated by the Hamas massacre of 7 October 2023 and the war it triggered. Drawing on multiple scholarly sources, Professor David Stone summarises the overwhelming evidence that eliminationist antisemitism is the ?elephant in the room? ? the underlying cause and principal driver of the hundred-year long Arab-Jewish (now misleadingly reframed as Israeli?Palestinian) conflict ? and is the main reason it remains unresolved. Until that political and genocidal bigotry is confronted, the conflict is likely to continue. The book concludes with a call to action. There is a moral obligation upon all of us ? regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion or politics ? to acknowledge this apparently immoveable obstacle to peace and to insist that the international community takes action. The most urgent priority is to alert the world to the existence of antisemitic antiIsraelism. The purpose of this book is to empower readers with the knowledge to take that crucial first step towards peace and justice not just for Israelis and Arabs, but for humanity as a whole.

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Book SynopsisWhen a suicide terrorist strikes in Israel, the usual contingent of first responders that one might see anywhere in the world -- police, medics, firefighters -- are accompanied by another group, one found only in Israel. They wear yarmulkes, white coveralls, rubber gloves, and dayglo yellow vests. These are the men of ZAKA, an Israeli religious organization dedicated to dealing with the mutilated and scorched bodies and the severed limbs of the victims of violent death, mainly those killed by Palestinian terrorism.ZAKA arose, reached its peak, and gained fame during the two waves of suicide terrorism that characterized the intensification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the last decade of the 20th century and the first five years of the twenty-first century. ZAKA has a few hundred all-male activists, typically volunteers, exclusively Haredi (ultra-orthodox) Jews. Well trained and equipped, they are among the first to arrive at the sites of unnatural death, especially the arenas

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Engagingly written…This is an effective entry point for those interested in the grand politics of crusader states.”—Andrew D Buck, BBC History Magazine “In this compelling book…Tibble argues persuasively that although the crusaders lacked the jargon and analytical apparatus of what we now (often incorrectly) call ‘strategy’, their ability to support policy by actions repeated over time and modified in the light of constraints properly amounted to just that.”—Ian Garrick-Mason, SpectatorShortlisted for the 2020 Duke of Wellington Medal for Military History“The Crusader Strategy tackles the fundamental problem faced by 'the defenders of the East' in the twelfth century. How did practical men implement God's will in almost impossible circumstances? Tibble's penetrative analysis shows that they responded by developing intelligent long-term strategies, skilfully adapted to the numerous challenges which confronted them.”—Malcolm Barber, author of The Crusader States “Viewing the crusader states' first century through the lens of strategic theory, Steve Tibble finds broad designs amid a whirlwind of battles, sieges, and negotiations. It is a compelling story vigorously-told of medieval men and the plans that they made.”—Thomas F. Madden, author of The New Concise History of the Crusades“Confident, brisk and engaging, Tibble offers a sharp new understanding of the Crusader States. He deftly reveals the strategic imperatives that shaped the early eras of conquest and consolidation, convincingly showing how and why the crusaders made their strategic choices. Pithy anecdote and clever analysis illuminate the crucial competition for Egypt, a race won by Saladin, who forced the crusaders out of their mighty castles and onto the fateful battlefield at Hattin. Insightful, original and persuasive - the perfect sibling to Tibble's Crusader Armies.”—Jonathan Phillips, author of The Life and Legend of the Sultan Saladin“Yes indeed! The kings of Jerusalem did have a strategy. The case is argued with great panache. Tibble brings a freshness and a breadth of knowledge to his subject and has clearly thought long and hard as to why things went wrong. A welcome addition to a lively debate.”—Peter W. Edbury, author of The Conquest of Jerusalem and the Third Crusade

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Book SynopsisA riveting, revealing and news-making account of the CIA''s interrogation of Saddam, written by the CIA agent who conducted the questioning. In December 2003, after one of the largest, most aggressive manhunts in history, US military forces captured Iraqi president Saddam Hussein near his hometown of Tikrit. Beset by body-double rumors and false alarms during a nine-month search, the Bush administration needed positive identification of the prisoner before it could make the announcement that would rocket around the world. At the time, John Nixon was a senior CIA leadership analyst who had spent years studying the Iraqi dictator. Called upon to make the official ID, Nixon looked for telltale scars and tribal tattoos and asked Hussein a list of questions only he could answer. The man was indeed Saddam Hussein, but as Nixon learned in the ensuing weeks, both he and America had greatly misunderstood just who Saddam Hussein really was. DTrade ReviewExcellent -- John Simpson * New Statesman *Refreshingly candid… [Mr. Nixon] reveals gobsmacking facts about that deposed Iraqi leader that raise new questions about why the United States bothered to invade Iraq to oust him from power * The New York Times *A damning indictment of the perversion of a major intelligence service by little minds inside and above it -- Michael Burleigh * The Times *Gripping…Nixon’s book, Debriefing the President, gives more ammunition to the skeptics; indeed, some of its contents can only be described as sensational * The New Yorker *The gripping behind-the-scenes story of Saddam Hussein's downfall * Soldier *

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Book SynopsisSince 2003, Iraq has rarely left the headlines. But less discussed is the fact that Iraq as we know it was created by the British, in one of the most dramatic interventions in recent history. A cautious strategic invasion by British forces led - within seven years - to imperial expansion on a dizzying scale, with fateful consequences for the Middle East and the world. In When God Made Hell, Charles Townshend charts Britain''s path from one of its worst military disasters to extraordinary success with largely unintended consequences, through overconfidence, incompetence and dangerously vague policy. With monumental research and exceptionally vivid accounts of on-the-ground warfare, this a truly gripping account of the Mesopotamia campaign, and its place in the wider political and international context. For anyone seeking to understand the roots of British involvement in Iraq, it is essential reading.

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Book SynopsisThis much needed new edition provides a complete and essential guide to this fast developing, ever changing and often tense region. This book, fully updated for 2024, examines the origins and development of the events which have dominated the headlines for the last seven decades. Covering everything from religion and politics in the aftermath of the Second World War to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, terrorism, war in Iraq and Syria and the extraordinary economic growth of the Gulf states, it will change the way you think about the region and provide balance and clarity.

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Book SynopsisThe Inside Story of the SAS's most famous battle - nine men against four hundred - told for the first time by the men who were there.Trade Review'An excellent and detailed account'. * RUSI Review *The time is now right for their bravery, at long last, to be properly recognised. * Lord Ashcroft, KCMG, Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth look at the struggle between the charismatic rebel commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, The Lion of Panjshir, and the Soviet forces who fought to control the Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan.When the Soviets rolled into Afghanistan in 1979, they believed if they took the cities, the country would follow. They were wrong. The Red Army found itself in a bloody stalemate in the Afghan mountains, in the strategically vital Panjshir Valley, where they faced the most able and charismatic of the rebel commanders: Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Lion of Panjshir.Time and again the Soviets and their Afghan counterparts sought to take control of the Panjshir, and time and again the rebels either rebuffed their clumsy attempts or ambushed and evaded them, only to retake the valley as soon as Moscow''s attention was elsewhere. Over time, the rebels acquired new weapons and developed their own tactics as did the Soviets. The Panjshir was not just a pivotal battlefield, it alsoTable of ContentsORIGINS OF THE CAMPAIGN CHRONOLOGY OPPOSING COMMANDERS - The Rebels - Soviet - The DRA OPPOSING FORCES - Soviet 40th Army - The DRA - The Panjshir Front OPPOSING PLANS - The Soviets/DRA - The Rebels THE CAMPAIGN - Panjshir I, April 1980: first blood - Panjshir II, August 1980: relieving Rukha - Panjshir III, November 1980: returning to Rukha - Panjshir IV, September 1981: a Soviet defeat - Panjshir V, May 1982: taking the valley - Panjshir VI, August–September 1982: the attempted mop-up - Truce, January–August 1983 - Panjshir VII, April–September 1984: back to the war - Panjshir VIII, September 1984: keeping Massoud off-balance - Panjshir IX, June 1985: the reprisal AFTERMATH - Assessment THE BATTLEFIELD TODAY GLOSSARY AND ACRONYMS FURTHER READING INDEX

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Book SynopsisIn 1187 Saladin''s armies besieged the holy city of Jerusalem. He had previously annihilated Jerusalem''s army at the battle of Hattin, and behind the city''s high walls a last-ditch defence was being led by an unlikely trio - including Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem. They could not resist Saladin, but, if they were lucky, they could negotiate terms that would save the lives of the city''s inhabitants.Queen Sibylla was the last of a line of formidable female rulers in the Crusader States of Outremer. Yet for all the many books written about the Crusades, one aspect is conspicuously absent: the stories of women. Queens and princesses tend to be presented as passive transmitters of land and royal blood. In reality, women ruled, conducted diplomatic negotiations, made military decisions, forged alliances, rebelled, and undertook architectural projects. Sibylla''s grandmother Queen Melisende was the first queen to seize real political agency in Jerusalem and rule in her own right.Trade ReviewFascinating, intriguing, exciting and authoritative. Here are the female rulers of the crusader states as shrewd politicians, warrior queens and mothers and wives, holding their own against male crusader states and Islamic warlords in the ruthless arena of the Middle East. The female crusader potentates have long been neglected, so this is long overdue and it was worth waiting for -- SIMON SEBAG MONTEFIOREThe subjects of this important and inspiring book have regularly been resigned to the footnotes of history. But the Queens of Jerusalem are history-makers, game-changers. Delight in their company in this seminal and scintillating debut -- BETTANY HUGHESBeautifully constructed, highly intelligent, perceptive, humane and empathetic, this wonderful book turns the forgotten women rulers of Jerusalem from powerless broodmares into complex actors with agency, ingenuity and fascinating lives -- WILLIAM DALRYMPLERecent scholarship has transformed understanding of the role of women in the European Middle Ages. Now Kate Pangonis's careful yet lively and engaging study focuses light on the public, domestic and social place of noble and royal women in the unique political and dynastic circumstances of the multi-cultural crusader states of the Levant. In a refreshing shift of historical emphasis, these women, whether players or pawns, are brought to life on their own terms, their experiences and careers, even if shaped by men, viewed from a distinctive feminine perspective -- Christopher Tyerman, Professor of History of the Crusades at Oxford UniversityIn her debut book Queens of Jerusalem: The Women Who Dared to Rule, historian Katherine Pangonis brings to life the stories of the female rulers of the Outremer (also known as the Crusader States) who have thus far been dismissed by history...Pangonis does an excellent job of contextualising the circumstances that led these women to forge their own alliances and make shrewd political and military decisions to seize power, both successfully and unsuccessfully. It is an impressive feat, considering that the majority of them are barely mentioned in existing historical sources. This book is an enjoyable read that finally addresses the crucial role of royal women in crusader history * ALL ABOUT HISTORY *A colourful and engaging narrative...Queens of Jerusalem explores some truly fascinating stories about women that deserve to be retold * TLS *Picturing Melisende, and other medieval queens, is not easy. As with the images in the gilding, the historian must get close to the texts, angle them this way and that, and seek out traces of their subjects. But as Katherine Pangonis makes clear in this vivid history, the effort is worthwhile, adding depth and unexpected detail to the understanding of the past. * The Economist *

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Book SynopsisAdel Guindy has produced a timely and authoritative account of the Copts'' story. It deserves to be widely read... this timely and excellent book will act as a wakeup call.... It reminds us that historically, the Copts have been Egypt''s beating heart and that Egypt''s future, without them, would be bleak indeed. PROFESSOR LORD ALTON, MEMBER OF THE BRITISH HOUSE OF LORDS A Sword Over the Nile is a most welcome book and contribution to the existing literature. Here in one volume, we have the largely unknown historical experiences of Egypt''s Coptic Christians under Islam--and from the most primary if previously inaccessible or untranslated sources. Not only is it a window to the past; it may be an ominous look to the future. RAYMOND IBRAHIM, AN EXPERT ON ISLAMIC DOCTRINEAND HISTORY, IS AUTHOR OF SWORD AND SCIMITAR:FOURTEEN CENTURIES OF WAR BETWEEN ISLAM AND THE WEST

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Book SynopsisThe profound effects of the British Empire's actions in the Arab World during the First World War can be seen echoing through the history of the 20th century. The uprising sparked by the Husayn-McMahon correspondence and led by 'Lawrence of Arabia'; the Sykes-Picot agreement which undermined that rebellion; and memoranda such as the Balfour Declaration all have shaped the Middle East into forms which would have been unrecognizable to the diplomats of the 19th century. Undertaken during the First 'World' War, these actions were not part of a coordinated British strategy, but in fact directed by several overlapping and competing departments, some imperfectly referred to as the 'Arab Bureau'. The British and the Middle East is unique in its comprehensive treatment of how and why the British generals and diplomats acted as they did. By taking as his starting point the voluminous, contradictory and revealing records of the policy-makers in the British government, Robert H. Lieshout shows convincingly that many concerned with foreign policy making were quite oblivious to the history and complexities of the Islamic World.Covering the full sweep of British involvement in Arabia, Lieshout makes a lasting contribution to our understanding of the period in which the British Empire changed the world, and shows how shallow and confused the understanding of those that shaped the future of the Middle East really was.

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Book Synopsis'A fabulous piece of writing . . . I recommend it unreservedly' WILLIAM DALRYMPLE'A brilliant book' CHRISTINA LAMB, author of Farewell KabulOne of the first things I was told when I arrived in Kabul was never to walk...When journalist Taran Khan arrives in Kabul, she uncovers a place that defies her expectations. Her wanderings with other Kabulis reveal a fragile city in a state of flux: stricken by near-constant war, but flickering with the promise of peace; governed by age-old codes but experimenting with new modes of living.Her walks take her to the unvisited tombs of the dead, and to the land of the living - like the booksellers, archaeologists, film-makers and entrepreneurs who are remaking this 3,000-year-old city. And as NATO troops begin to withdraw from the country, Khan watches the cycle of transformation begin again.**Winner of the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award 2021****Winner of the Tata Literature Live First Book Award for Non-Fiction 2020**'Powerfully evocative' Kapka Kassabova'A wonderful journey' Atiq Rahimi'Khan illuminates Kabul's life-affirming humanity' TLSTrade ReviewShadow City is no conventional travel book. For Khan gives us a Kabul of the imagination: it is the city that was, less the city that is, that fascinates her. Her perambulations represent a form of "bipedal archaeology", an exercise in exhuming the past and probing the lost... It is easy to cast Kabul as a tragic mess of a metropolis, but Khan illuminates its life-affirming humanity -- Oliver Balch * Times Literary Supplement *Offers a unique on-the-ground view of the city...a refreshing counterpoint to the macho foreign correspondent genre... Khan’s interviews during her walks powerfully evoke the fluctuating mood in a city that is trying to heal itself -- Amelia Gentleman * Guardian *These stories conjure a magic in the labyrinthine streets and reveal a fragile city in a state of flux, shape-shifting and flickering with the promise of peace -- Sophie Lam * i *Any reader of this book is sure to discover a Kabul so unlike what the media portrays. Taran’s love of her city comes across in her enchanting evocation of a city where so many tragedies echo from across Kabul’s decades of war. On her last walk, she writes: “to leave Kabul was to take it with you.” This is what happened when I finished reading this book, I took Kabul with me -- Raja Shehadeh, author of Palestinian WalksOn the surface, Kabul is a city caught "between the hope of peace and the habit of violence." The deeper reality, though, is even more complex and layered: like Kabul's actual lanes, those that map its character "twist and vanish . . . like well-kept secrets." It is an elusive, illusive place - bood, nabood, now you see it, now you don't. Taran Khan's achievement is to have caught it in an affecting and beautifully observed portrait, a word-map that will endure -- Tim Mackintosh-SmithBy excavating Afghanistan's forgotten past, Khan rescues its future, too. Her lyrical prose brings to life the most daring truth a writer can offer: that these tragedies were not preordained, and another Afghanistan is possible -- Anand Gopal, author of No Good Men Among the LivingA lyrical discovery... As a Muslim woman from India, Khan is able to present a unique social and historical perspective -- Edward Girardet * Global Geneva *Taran Khan invites and leads us into a wonderful journey through the streets of Kabul, its history and culture. Step by step with her, we breathe in the city’s air of mysticism and mystery, walk through gardens full of myths and secrets, and we caress the wounds and scars of war on the skin of the city and cross the bridge that is built over the river between Indo-Greek civilization -- Atiq RahimiShadow City moved me to tears... In the service of Kabul and Afghanistan, a region of the world about which we imagine we know much more than we actually do, no book has done a more honest and heart-warming job in recent years... Thrilling -- Supriya Nair * Mumbai Mirror *Traces the lost glory of the city and narrates contemporary miseries. A moving memoir...and a subtle dive into history -- Ashutosh Bhardwaj * Financial Express *Sparkling...a city and a part of the world that is particularly suited to the elegy... The Kabul stories Khan collects are like that: silent screams for a city that was and the city it could be -- Vikram Shah * Mint Lounge *An intricate, intimate portrait of a heartbreaking city, its people and its past, written with nuance, love and attention. In her multi-dimensional memoir Taran Khan explores Kabul as she wanders – through its streets but also its literature, its politics but also its passions – revealing as she does her own exacting, compassionate sense of what the city was and can still be -- Alice Albinia, author of Empires of the IndusThrough these deep and compassionate portraits of ordinary people who call Kabul home, Taran Khan tells the story of the city through war and peace as never told before. At a time when deep uncertainly hangs over Afghanistan’s future once again, Shadow City provides an invaluable perspective on life in its capital -- Snigdha PoonamKhan asks important questions of cities that have witnessed trauma in the palimpsests of what remains. The book carries valuable insights into the effects of war -- the fragility of books, films, ways of life; addiction as a war wound; the instability of 'home'. Mostly, it reminds us of the power of words to represent ways of seeing * India Today *A profound, beautifully written meditation -- Lucy Popescu * Tablet *

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Book SynopsisAmid pervasive and toxic language, and equally ugly ideas, suggesting that migrants are invaders and human mobility is an aberration, one might imagine that human beings are naturally sedentary: that the desire to move from one's birthplace is abnormal. As the contributors to this volume attest, however, migration and human mobility are part and parcel of the world we live in, and the continuous flow of people and exchange of cultures are as old as the societies we have built together. Together, the chapters in this volume emphasise the diversity of the origins, consequences and experiences of human mobility in the Middle East. From multidisciplinary perspectives and through case studies, the contributors offer the reader a deeper understanding of current as well as historical incidences of displacement and forced migration. In addition to offering insights on multiple root causes of displacement, the book also addresses the complex challenges of host-refugee relations, migrants' integration and marginalisation, humanitarian agencies, and the role and responsibility of states. Cross-cutting themes bind several chapters together: the challenges of categories; the dynamics of control and contestation between migrants and states at borders; and the persistence of identity issues influencing regional patterns of migration.Trade Review'This collection is both a timely and significant contribution to our understanding of what makes movement and mobility a defining feature of contemporary life in the Middle East.' -- Dawn Chatty, Emeritus Professor of Anthropology and Forced Migration, University of Oxford'Babar has skillfully assembled an impressive collection of case studies on voluntary and involuntary mobility in the Middle East. A valuable contribution to the debate on how states and non-state actors instrumentalise migration, displacement and statelessness.' -- Abdulhadi Khalaf, Professor of Sociology, Lund University'This volume is timely and essential as more borders harden, economies and societies struggle with refugees, and war continues to cause human suffering in the Middle East. An excellent read and a must-have resource for scholars in the field.' -- Jane Bristol-Rhys, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Zayed University Abu Dhabi, and author of 'Emirati Women'

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Book SynopsisGorgeous Collector's Edition which brings to life the culture of one of the great founding civilisations. Companion volume to Egyptian Myths & Legends in the same series, this title brings to life the beginnings of human experience, the irrigation of the Nile, the origins of hieroglyphics in demarcation of land and water resources as the first people of North Africa gathered around the Nile to create one of the greatest and most enduring civilisations, one that fascinated the later titans of Antiquity, the Greeks and Romans. From these lands come the pyramids, the statues and the great Kings such as Khufu (reigning 2589–2566 BC), Hatshepsut (reigning 1478–1458 BC), Amenhotep III (reigning 1388–1351 BC), Akhenaten (reigning 1351–1334 BC), Tutankhamun (reigning 1332–1323 BC) and Ramses II (reigning 1279–1213 BC). Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction: authors, myths, tales and history without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new Introduction and a Glossary of Terms or lists of Ancient Leaders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary character and career of Saladin are the keys to understanding the Battle of Hattin, the fall of Jerusalem and the failure of the Third Crusade. He united warring Muslim lands, reconquered the bulk of Crusader states and faced the Richard the Lion Heart, king of England, in one of the most famous confrontations in medieval warfare. Geoffrey Hindley's sympathetic and highly readable study of the life and times of this remarkable, many-sided man, who dominated the Middle East in his day, gives a fascinating insight into his achievements and into the Muslim world of his contemporaries. Geoffrey Hindley is a distinguished medieval historian who has written widely on many aspects of the period. He has made a special study of medieval warfare and of sieges in particular. His previous books include Castles of Europe, Medieval Warfare, England in the Age of Caxton, Under Siege, Tourists, Travellers and Pilgrims, The Book of Magna Carta and The Crusades. His most recent publications are is A Brief History of the Anglo-Saxons and Medieval Siege and Siegecraft.

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Book SynopsisThis two-volume set delves deeply into the life of the Muslim scholar Ibn A?tham al-Kufi and his monumental historical work, the Kitab al-futu? (Book of Conquests).

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Book SynopsisFollowing the 1979 revolution, the Iranian government set out to Islamize society. Muslim piety had to be visible, in personal appearance and in action. Iranians were told to pray, fast, and attend mosques to be true Muslims. The revolution turned questions of what it means to be a true Muslim into a matter of public debate, taken up widely outside the exclusive realm of male clerics and intellectuals. Say What Your Longing Heart Desires offers an elegant ethnography of these debates among a group of educated, middle-class women whose voices are often muted in studies of Islam. Niloofar Haeri follows them in their daily lives as they engage with the classical poetry of Rumi, Hafez, and Saadi, illuminating a long-standing mutual inspiration between prayer and poetry. She recounts how different forms of prayer may transform into dialogues with God, and, in turn, Haeri illuminates the ways in which believers draw on prayer and ritual acts as the emotional and intellectual material through which they think, deliberate, and debate.Trade Review"This is one of the best books on prayer in all of anthropology. Niloofar Haeri shows that prayer is not an empty ritual, but that it becomes a relationship that changes people—and allows the secular reader to understand how poetry enables women to feel spiritual presence. A beautifully written work."—Tanya Luhrmann, Stanford University, author of When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God"Say What Your Longing Heart Desires is a work that deserves to be widely read by all who are interested in understanding the different approaches to 'authentic' religion that exist in the Muslim world. A rich and detailed account, and a valuable contribution to our knowledge of religious practice."—Talal Asad, author of Genealogies of Religion: Discipline and Reasons of Power in Christianity and Islam"Say What Your Longing Heart Desires establishes itself immediately as an essential work in the anthropology of prayer and a major contribution to the study of religious practice and experience. A subtle and compelling work."—Robert A. Orsi, Northwestern University, author of Between Heaven and Earth: The Religious Worlds People Make and the Scholars Who Study Them"Say What Your Longing Heart Desires will change common perceptions about women's experiences in Iran. Niloofar Haeri examines competing claims of Muslimhood and offers novel readings of theological conversations on spirituality and religious conviction in the Islamic Republic. An empirically rich and theoretically nuanced book."—Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi, Princeton University, author of Foucault in Iran: Islamic Revolution after the Enlightenment"Niloofar Haeri's deeply researched and elegantly written book brings readers into the most intimate and exigent spaces of a religious world. Haeri examines the everyday prayer practices of Iranian women as the basis for reflecting on the relationship between prayer and poetry and on how ideas about religiosity debated in classical Persian poetry inform the world of prayer. Haeri's ethnographic study of Muslim women at prayer, a practice that is at once deeply personal and utterly social, underscores the diversity of Muslim religious practices and challenges conceptions of what constitutes 'authentic' religion, complicating the distinction between ritual and non-ritual forms of worship. This beautiful book is a signal contribution to the study of women and Islam, with implications for the study of religion itself."—Jury for the American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion: Constructive-Reflective Studies"Using beautiful, limpid prose, Haeri weaves together poetry, religion, and ethnography to show how a group of middle-class, educated Iranian women counter the state's version of Islam. They regularly revisit and reconsider Islamic theology by drawing on the vast body of mystic poetry that is so central to Iranian culture. In the process, Haeri blurs lines thrown up between the secular and the religious in recent scholarship and invites us to consider the deeper, political, and public meaning of ritualistic religious practices."—Committee for the Fatema Mernissi Book Award, sponsored by the Middle East Studies Association"As one of the best examples of works on 'lived Islam,' [Say What Your Longing Heart Desires] showcases how much analysis, critical thinking, and self-reflection is involved in the construction and performance of 'religious' acts and will be helpful to both students and experts in the fields of religion, ritual, and literature."—Ahoo Najafian, International Journal of Middle East Studies"Students and teachers of comparative religion will appreciate this fresh and unusual way to learn about how Iranians practice Islam... Readers get the rare gift of hearing the women's words and reading about events in their lives. As Haeri points out, we in the West don't often get that intimacy with Muslims in general or Iranians in particular."—Karie Firoozmand, Friends JournalTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Where Do Ideas Come from? An Education in Classical Poetry Chapter 2: Fixed Forms and the Play of Imagination: Everyday Ritual Prayers Chapter 3: What Are We up to When We Pray? Spontaneous Conversations with God Chapter 4: Movable Mosques: Prayer Books, Women, and Youth Conclusion

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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 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 Synopsis''Beware of Small States'' wrote Mikhail Bukanin in 1870. He could have meant Lebanon: a sectarian state no bigger than Wales that has become battleground for one of the defining conflicts of twentieth-century history. Throughout its short existence, it has been attacked, invaded, occupied or interfered with to serve the political interests of foreign powers, resulting a series of devastating wars and crises. To understand Lebanon''s history is to understand the history of the entire region - and, with the rise of Hizbullah, it has come to assume a disproportionate, dangerous power of its own. Iran and Israel now face each other in the hills of south Lebanon.David Hirst, author of The Gun and the Olive Branch, is a hugely respected commentator on the Arab-Israeli crisis. In a masterly narrative, he gives a much-needed, comprehensive history of the country and its conflicts, culminating with the recent war in Gaza and its fallout in Lebanon. Powerful and often moving,

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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 SynopsisIn a bestselling work of profound and lasting importance, the late Albert Hourani told the definitive history of the Arab peoples from the seventh century, when the new religion of Islam began to spread from the Arabian peninsula westwards, to the present day. It is a masterly distillation of a lifetime of scholarship and a unique insight into a perpetually troubled region.This updated edition by Malise Ruthven adds a substantial new chapter which includes recent events such as 9/11, the US invasion of Iraq and its bloody aftermath, the fall of the Mubarak and Ben Ali regimes in Egypt and Tunisia, and the incipient civil war in Syria, bringing Hourani''s magisterial history up to date. Ruthven suggests that while Hourani can hardly have been expected to predict in detail the massive upheavals that have shaken the Arab world recently he would not have been entirely surprised, given the persistence of the kin-patronage networks he describes in his book and

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