A Line in the Sand
The Anglo-French Struggle for the Middle East, 1914-1948
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4.5 • 16 Ratings
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“A provocative history . . . helps us to understand why the Arab spring is so important and valuable.”—David Ignatius, National Interest
In the twentieth century, while fighting a common enemy in Europe, Britain and France were locked in a clandestine struggle for power in the Middle East. From the first agreement to divide the region between them to the birth of Israel, A Line in the Sand is a gripping narrative of the last gasp of imperialism, with tales of unscrupulous double-dealing, cynical manipulation, and all-too-frequent violence that continues to the present day.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Toward the end of WWI, as the Ottoman Empire's collapse seemed imminent, French and British imperial designs turned to the Mideast. The two war allies arrived at a simple solution: the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement (later supported by the League of Nations), which gave France control of Lebanon and Syria, while the British received Palestine and Transjordan. Between them, the two divided much of Mesopotamia. But during the next three decades, things got more complex. The British endorsed Zionist ambitions in Palestine with the Balfour Declaration; oil was discovered in southern Iraq; and Arab nationalism led to revolts against both France and Britain during the 1920s and '30s. British historian Barr (Setting the Desert on Fire) shows how the French and British tried to extend their influence, and undermine each other, in part by ingratiating themselves with various Arab and Jewish leaders and factions. Near the end of WWII, Britain's Lord Moyne favored a "greater Syria" that would comprise Syria, Lebanon, Transjordan, and Palestine. Conversely, after the war ended, members of the French government facilitated arms shipments to factions of the anti-British Zionist revolt. Barr's extensive archival research, evocative historical vignettes, and a superb sense of narrative pacing produce a first-rate work.
Customer Reviews
Essential Part of the Middle East Must-Read List
Well researched and written. Perhaps most importantly, while a number of books end the story by 1920 or pick it up in 1967, Barr continues the through line up to 1948. This period was far from benign and reveals the How as much as the earlier period reveals the Why. No one comes out unscathed.
E R Olsen
A primer on the Middle East as we know it
or how the French and English created the current state of affairs. And excellent and very well researched book on the history of how the French and English carved out the current states in the Middle East.
Note to author: More maps would be helpful for future editions.
A line in the sand
A well documented history of the Middle East. But considering the topic, a few maps would certainly have made this historical survey more understandable and easier to comprehend.