Enemy on the Euphrates: The British Occupation of Iraq and the Great Arab Revolt 1914-1921 - Rilegato

Ian Rutledge

Rilegato

ISBN 10: 0863567622 ISBN 13: 9780863567629

Casa editrice: Saqi Books, 2014

Riassunto

Between July 1920 and February 1921, in the territory known as Mesopotamia - now the modern state of Iraq - an Arab uprising came perilously close to inflicting a shattering defeat upon the British Empire. A huge peasant army led by Shi'i clerics, Baghdad notables, disaffected sheikhs and former Ottoman army officers surrounded and besieged British garrisons with sand-bagged entrenchments; British columns and armoured trains were ambushed and destroyed; and well-armed British gunboats were sunk or captured. The quest for oil was central to Britain's Middle East policy during the First World War and was one of the principal reasons for its continuing occupation of Iraq. However, with around 131,000 Arabs in arms at one stage of the conflict, the British were very nearly driven out. Only a massive infusion of Indian troops and the widespread use of aircraft prevented a total rout. Enemy on the Euphrates is the definitive history of the first British occupation of Iraq and the revolt against it in 1920 - the most serious armed uprising against British rule in the twentieth century. Using a wealth of primary sources, Ian Rutledge brings central players such as Winston Churchill, Arnold Wilson, T.E. Lawrence, Gertrude Bell and Sir Mark Sykes vividly to life in this gripping account.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

'Ian Rutledge's 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 1914-1945

'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 ... 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. Populated by a remarkable crowd of spies, diplomats, soldiers, clerics and tribal leaders, Rutledge s account displays almost 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

'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

'This gripping narrative brings to life the human side of these violent events through vivid descriptions and anecdotes.' Charles Tripp, author of The Power and the People: Paths of Resistance in the Middle East

'[A] rare treasure that combines a fascinating account of important historical events with penetrating analysis. 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

'Sobering, thoughtful, brilliantly-written ... excellent' The Long, Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918

'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

'A very useful contribution to the understanding of modern Iraq' Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online

'Timely ... 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

'Rutledge does an excellent job of conveying the logistical difficulties confronting any military leadership, let alone one operating thousands of miles from home and in physically challenging and hostile enemy territory ... an easy and enjoyable read ... deserving of a wide readership' --Eamonn Gearon, Middle East Journal

'Much of Enemy on the Euphrates reads like a great adventure story, proving how fascinating real history can be ... The unique contribution of the author, historian and economist Ian Rutledge is bringing to light the character and activities of a group of Arab heroes virtually unknown in the West. ... Rutledge s narrative is highly visual, transporting the reader from the battlefield to Baghdad, villages along the Euphrates, and conference rooms in London and Cairo where diplomats, politicians, military commanders and intelligence officers debate various models for controlling the region all short of full independence. ... Enemy on the Euphrates is a rare combination of in-depth information, fairness of analysis and readability, reinforced by excellent maps.' Jordan Times

'Rutledge gives us a well-researched and well-written account of the rebellion and the consequent establishment of Iraq. He clearly describes British policy, gives a realistic picture of the local Iraqi scene, and altogether produces a readable, interesting and very useful contribution to the understanding of modern Iraq.' Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online

A fast-moving account of the uprising which continues to reverberate across Iraqi politics a century later ... Rutledge guides the reader through the twists and turns of British policies towards Iraq with clarity and aplomb ... Enemy on the Euphrates should become required reading for officials in London and Washington DC as they contemplate yet another military foray into Iraq.' --Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, International Affairs

L'autore:

Ian Rutledge is an economist and historian. A graduate of the University of Cambridge where he received his PhD in Economic History, Rutledge is Research Director and Co-Founder of the Sheffield Energy Resources Information Services (SERIS). He has taught at the universities of London and Sheffield and for the Workers Educational Association (WEA). His other publications include Addicted to Oil: America s Relentless Drive for Energy Security. He lives in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Saqi Books
• Data di pubblicazione: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0863567622
• ISBN 13: 9780863567629
• Rilegatura: Copertina rigida
• Numero di pagine: 471