Summaries of books about Middle Eastern History:
The Return
Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between
Hisham Matar
The memoir recounts the author's journey back to his native Libya in search of the truth behind his father's disappearance under the Gaddafi regime. It explores themes of family, exile, and the longing for justice and closure amidst the backdrop of political upheaval.
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And Then All Hell Broke Loose
Two Decades in the Middle East
Richard Engel
The book provides a firsthand account of the transformative events and conflicts in the Middle East over a span of twenty years, as witnessed by the author, a veteran foreign correspondent. It covers the rise of Al Qaeda, the Iraq War, the Arab Spring, and the Syrian Civil War, offering insights into the region's complex politics and the impact of these events on global affairs.
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The Dressmaker of Khair Khana
Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe
Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
The book tells the true story of Kamila Sidiqi, a young woman who becomes an entrepreneur under the Taliban's oppressive rule in Kabul, Afghanistan, to support her family. It chronicles her journey as she starts a dressmaking business in her home, which not only provides income for her relatives but also becomes a lifeline for her community of women facing similar hardships.
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The Lemon Tree
An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East
Sandy Tolan
The book narrates the true story of a friendship between a Palestinian man and an Israeli woman who both have a personal connection to a house and a lemon tree in Ramla, Israel. It delves into the complex history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of their shared experiences and the symbolic significance of the tree.
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Jerusalem
The Biography
Simon Sebag Montefiore
The book presents a comprehensive history of Jerusalem, chronicling its tumultuous past from ancient times to the modern era, highlighting the city's significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It weaves together narratives of political intrigue, religious fervor, and cultural clashes that have defined the city's role as a center of world history.
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Babylon's Ark
The Incredible Wartime Rescue of the Baghdad Zoo
Lawrence Anthony|Graham Spence
The book chronicles the true story of conservationist Lawrence Anthony's efforts to save the animals of the Baghdad Zoo following the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. It details the harrowing and often dangerous mission to rescue and rehabilitate the surviving animals amidst the chaos of war.
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The Hundred Years' War on Palestine
A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917–2017
Rashid Khalidi
The book presents a narrative of the conflict between Zionists and Palestinians, framing it as a colonial struggle from the Balfour Declaration in 1917 to the present. It examines key historical moments and Palestinian resistance, offering personal and scholarly perspectives on the ongoing tensions and battles for rights and land.
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The Fall of the Ottomans
The Great War in the Middle East
Eugene L. Rogan
The book provides a detailed account of the Ottoman Empire's role in World War I, examining the political, military, and social aspects that led to its collapse. It explores the empire's battles on various fronts, the Armenian Genocide, and the post-war partitioning that reshaped the Middle East.
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Daughters Of Arabia
Princess 2
Jean Sasson
The book continues the true story of Princess Sultana, a royal Saudi Arabian woman advocating for women's rights, revealing the hidden lives of the women within the wealthy Saudi society. It delves into personal family dramas, including her daughters' experiences, and exposes the challenges and oppressions faced by women under the strict Islamic laws of Saudi Arabia.
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Seven Pillars of Wisdom
A Triumph
T E Lawrence
The book is a detailed autobiographical account of the author's experiences as a British Army officer during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It provides insights into the guerrilla warfare tactics he employed, his role in the Arab National Council, and his interactions with Arab leaders, while also reflecting on the broader political and cultural implications of the conflict.
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