Book cover of Lords of the Desert: The Battle Between the United States and Great Britain for Supremacy in the Modern Middle East

Book description

A path-breaking history of how the United States superseded Great Britain as the preeminent power in the Middle East, with urgent lessons for the present day

We usually assume that Arab nationalism brought about the end of the British Empire in the Middle East -- that Gamal Abdel Nasser and…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Lords of the Desert as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

This book sums up so much of what went on in the Middle East from the Second World War onwards. As such, James Barr lifts the curtain on British plotting and intrigue in a most readable and thrilling way. It details how America got involved in the middle decades of the twentieth century and much of the rivalry that existed during this period between the secret services. Essential reading to understand some of the present-day political ramifications of the region.

From Louise's list on spies in the Middle East.

This is a meticulously researched book on British and American political and diplomatic activity in the Middle East in the period following the end of the Second World War. It helps explain the situation of the present day – the relations between one country and another, the regimes in power, and ongoing Western interventions in the region. It also makes clear how, at every turn, the actions of these two nations were motivated only by self-interest, mainly by the maintenance of economic advantages, particularly relating to oil, that had been gained when they had exploited the region in earlier times.…

If you love Lords of the Desert...

Book cover of The Arab Bureau: The Story of Britain’s Most Ingenious Intelligence Unit

The Arab Bureau by Eamonn Gearon,

During the First World War, an extraordinary intelligence unit operated from Cairo's Savoy Hotel, combining archaeologists, academics, and soldiers to revolutionize British intelligence in the Middle East. Overshadowed by Lawrence of Arabia, the Arab Bureau's significance has remained hidden ever since.

This study uncovers the Bureau's story through newly discovered…

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