What do you think?
Rate this book
Faisal I of Iraq
The first major biography of the founder of modern Iraq, a charismatic champion of Arab independence and unity
Born in 1883, King Faisal I of Iraq was a seminal figure not only in the founding of the state of Iraq but also in the making of the modern Middle East. In all the tumult leading to the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of new Arab states, Faisal was a central player. His life traversed each of the important political, military, and intellectual developments of his times. This comprehensive biography is the first to provide a fully rounded picture of Faisal the man and Faisal the monarch. Ali A. Allawi recounts the dramatic events of his subject’s life and provides a reassessment of his crucial role in developments in the pre– and post–World War I Middle East and of his lasting but underappreciated influence in the region even 80 years after his death. A battle-hardened military leader who, with the help of Lawrence of Arabia, organized the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire; a leading representative of the Arab cause, alongside Gertrude Bell, at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919; a founding father and king of the first independent state of Syria; the first king of Iraq—in his many roles Faisal overcame innumerable crises and opposing currents while striving to build the structures of a modern state. This book is the first to afford his contributions to Middle East history the attention they deserve.
Born in 1883, King Faisal I of Iraq was a seminal figure not only in the founding of the state of Iraq but also in the making of the modern Middle East. In all the tumult leading to the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and the establishment of new Arab states, Faisal was a central player. His life traversed each of the important political, military, and intellectual developments of his times. This comprehensive biography is the first to provide a fully rounded picture of Faisal the man and Faisal the monarch. Ali A. Allawi recounts the dramatic events of his subject’s life and provides a reassessment of his crucial role in developments in the pre– and post–World War I Middle East and of his lasting but underappreciated influence in the region even 80 years after his death. A battle-hardened military leader who, with the help of Lawrence of Arabia, organized the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire; a leading representative of the Arab cause, alongside Gertrude Bell, at the Paris Peace Conference of 1919; a founding father and king of the first independent state of Syria; the first king of Iraq—in his many roles Faisal overcame innumerable crises and opposing currents while striving to build the structures of a modern state. This book is the first to afford his contributions to Middle East history the attention they deserve.
672 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
23 people are currently reading
535 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 28, 2015
The Middle East we know today was shaped largely by the decisions and actions of men 90-100 years ago --- almost all of whom you've never heard of. One of those men was Faisal I of Iraq. For those familiar with the 1962 movie, "Lawrence of Arabia", he is known in that as Prince Faisal.
The book ably covers the life of a remarkable man ---- one who led the Arab armies advised by Lawrence of Arabia that helped turned the tide against the Central Powers in the Middle East during WWI. Having collapsed the Ottoman Empire, it now fell upon the victorious Allies and men like Faisal to try to rebuild the ruins. In that, given the unfortunate Sykes-Picot Agreement between France and Great Britain, these were arbitrarily divided between them --- irrespective of the desires of the peoples within them -- or their various ethnic and religious groups.
Reading this biography, we see a man transformed from a minor tribal figure to a military leader to a diplomat and political leader and, eventually, into Iraq's first leader. In this role, I think that Faisal as most fascinating. As we read of Faisal's efforts to forge a deeply divided Iraq --- comprised of fragments of former Ottoman provinces, it's clear that the same problems that America dealt with in the aftermath of its invasion of Iraq bear little difference from that confronted by the British and by Faisal in their governance and administration of this artificial nation-state.
Faced with an Iraq in which its people identified with their own ethnic and religious groups more than as Iraqis, with a devastated economy, no infrastructure, and seemingly intractable problems, Faisal took the helm of what by any standards was already a basket case. Notwithstanding, this book shows how Faisal manages to balance the various factions' concerns and strife, and cobble together Iraq into an independent nation.
Moreover, after reading this, I have to conclude that, whatever their faults, both the British and Faisal did a comparatively better job at getting Iraq started after WWI than did the Americans after Iraqi Freedom in getting it restarted. One wonders if, perhaps, Bush Administration policy makers had read this book, if they might have made different decisions than they did in the reconstruction of Iraq --- or, perhaps, after reading the difficulties in governing Iraq, they may even have reconsidered getting bogged down in Iraq in the first place.
At the end, I walked from this seeing Faisal quite possibly as the best leader Iraq ever had. Had his successors been as wise and as pragmatic instead of variously self-indulgent, incompetent, vicious, cruel and sectarian, perhaps the Iraq we have today might have turned out far better than the failed state we have today. Faisal I emerges in this book as someone, while far from perfect, who was far-sighted, practical, intelligent, and just.
I recommend this book for anyone desiring to learn more about the events and people long ago who shaped the Middle East we have today.
The book ably covers the life of a remarkable man ---- one who led the Arab armies advised by Lawrence of Arabia that helped turned the tide against the Central Powers in the Middle East during WWI. Having collapsed the Ottoman Empire, it now fell upon the victorious Allies and men like Faisal to try to rebuild the ruins. In that, given the unfortunate Sykes-Picot Agreement between France and Great Britain, these were arbitrarily divided between them --- irrespective of the desires of the peoples within them -- or their various ethnic and religious groups.
Reading this biography, we see a man transformed from a minor tribal figure to a military leader to a diplomat and political leader and, eventually, into Iraq's first leader. In this role, I think that Faisal as most fascinating. As we read of Faisal's efforts to forge a deeply divided Iraq --- comprised of fragments of former Ottoman provinces, it's clear that the same problems that America dealt with in the aftermath of its invasion of Iraq bear little difference from that confronted by the British and by Faisal in their governance and administration of this artificial nation-state.
Faced with an Iraq in which its people identified with their own ethnic and religious groups more than as Iraqis, with a devastated economy, no infrastructure, and seemingly intractable problems, Faisal took the helm of what by any standards was already a basket case. Notwithstanding, this book shows how Faisal manages to balance the various factions' concerns and strife, and cobble together Iraq into an independent nation.
Moreover, after reading this, I have to conclude that, whatever their faults, both the British and Faisal did a comparatively better job at getting Iraq started after WWI than did the Americans after Iraqi Freedom in getting it restarted. One wonders if, perhaps, Bush Administration policy makers had read this book, if they might have made different decisions than they did in the reconstruction of Iraq --- or, perhaps, after reading the difficulties in governing Iraq, they may even have reconsidered getting bogged down in Iraq in the first place.
At the end, I walked from this seeing Faisal quite possibly as the best leader Iraq ever had. Had his successors been as wise and as pragmatic instead of variously self-indulgent, incompetent, vicious, cruel and sectarian, perhaps the Iraq we have today might have turned out far better than the failed state we have today. Faisal I emerges in this book as someone, while far from perfect, who was far-sighted, practical, intelligent, and just.
I recommend this book for anyone desiring to learn more about the events and people long ago who shaped the Middle East we have today.
February 14, 2015
This is the most challenging book I have ever read to completion. It took me months to finish. It required a consistent steady effort in order to keep the characters and chronology in my mind. In other words, my original approach of reading a few pages here and there did not work for me. Eventually I made the commitment to read only this book (I usually read three at a time). I put the other two books aside and made the press to finish this book. Why would I work so hard to finish a book? For years I have been fascinated with the story of T.E. Lawrence. I am also fascinated with Arabia, because I love deserts, and would love to travel there. The Wall Street Journal wrote a review of the biography that intrigued me. Every time I read a biography of a world historical figure reveals to me that I know nothing about the world I live in. Usually, I consider myself a well informed person. I read serious press and periodicals. I watch the news. I was a good student. However, every time I learn something new, the realization of what is left to understand becomes engulfing. This book was exhaustive in it's details. It took 562 pages to discuss around 20 years of history surrounding one man. But reading it leaves me wanting to know more about the history of Iran and the Ottoman empire. I also want to understand why the Shi'a and Sunni's have come to see themselves so differently and why it is so important for each sect to have total control of a region. Just today, I skimmed an op-ed that said the only way to get control over the ISIS problem in Iraq is to get the Shi'a to share political power with the Sunni's. This is an ancient problem that began at least before WWI. And political power just scratches at the surface of their differences. I have always been captivated by the idea of an Arabic state. But reading this book and a biography of Lawrence makes me doubt it is even possible. Or necessary. Certainly watching the news brings doubt to the mind considering a larger Arabic state. Clearly, being Arabic is not the soul characteristic of any person of that descent. And, when you consider the silliness of having a continental home reserved for only those of Latino or Saxon descent, you begin to scratch your head at the efforts of those who seek to have a continent ruled by one race or one religion. I cannot begin to inform you of all the interesting and confounding ideas and efforts of Faisal. He was a man of extreme contradictions. He was duplicitous. He was part dictator and part republican. I don't know if he understood his own heart. I wonder if what he tried to accomplish was worth his health and life. Certainly self-rule is a great ideal. I don't believe in colonialism as I understand it to be. I can see weakness in almost every once colonial outpost. But I am not sure that the nations would be better today if they had never been colonized. There is this idea that aboriginals are more pure in their culture, traditions and government. I don't know that I have seen any evidence of that purity. This book brought so many questions to my mind. I think it alone could be the text for a college course. But, if you are like me, you will not be satisfied with reading this book. It opens a Pandora's box.
August 2, 2014
This book is an incredible history of the Middle East during and after World War I. It is the fist time that I have really gained an understanding of the Arab Revolt, T. E. Lawrence, and the things like the Sykes-Picot Treaty and the Balfour Declaration. It is nice to get these things in biographical form. The book is by an Arab speaker so has many sources not available beforehand. The book is clearly favorable to the subject and sympathetic to him. And dotes more on history than his personal life, so could better be called "Faisal I and His Time." It has very little on his personal life and less about his many months each year in Europe. Still, a must read about the Middle East.
February 23, 2017
A slow but revealing and balanced biography of Faisal. Allawi does a great job showing Faisal’s evolution from careful, conservative Ottoman loyalist to a fiery revolutionary and finally to an idealistic statesman. Allawi ably portrays Faisal’s intelligence, charm, and moodiness. Allawi also argues that Faisal was the real founder of Iraq (rather than Cox or Bell)
Some readers will be drawn to this book due to an interest in T.E. Lawrence. They might be disappointed. The book sometimes reads like a sketchy overview and Allawi’s rendition of the Arab Revolt is relatively short. He also seems to rely heavily on Lawrence’s memoirs for this section, and he also argues that Lawrence’s role was not as important as some other British officers. The book’s pace picks up after 1918 when Allawi describes the complicated politics of Syria and the impact of the Paris talks. Allawi’s style is nuanced and nobody comes off purely as a hero or a villain.
A rich and nuanced biography, although the typos are annoying. Also, the narrative is not as thorough as the book’s size suggests: there is little insight into Faisal’s character.
Some readers will be drawn to this book due to an interest in T.E. Lawrence. They might be disappointed. The book sometimes reads like a sketchy overview and Allawi’s rendition of the Arab Revolt is relatively short. He also seems to rely heavily on Lawrence’s memoirs for this section, and he also argues that Lawrence’s role was not as important as some other British officers. The book’s pace picks up after 1918 when Allawi describes the complicated politics of Syria and the impact of the Paris talks. Allawi’s style is nuanced and nobody comes off purely as a hero or a villain.
A rich and nuanced biography, although the typos are annoying. Also, the narrative is not as thorough as the book’s size suggests: there is little insight into Faisal’s character.
January 18, 2019
I highly recommend this definite and beautiful book regarding one of the most important rulers of his time. No man is perfect and he certainly had his flaws but he worked tirelessly to aim for his grandiose dream: independence.
I loved the book.
Sullivan has provided a beautiful summary of this mammoth here: https://www.mepc.org/faisal-i-iraq
I loved the book.
Sullivan has provided a beautiful summary of this mammoth here: https://www.mepc.org/faisal-i-iraq
February 16, 2022
One of my favourite books of 2020 was Eugene Rogan's 'The Fall of The Ottomans', and one of the major factors contributing to their fall, was the Arab Revolt. That book chronicled this from the Ottoman point of view, and I found one character deeply compelling- (then) Price Faisal-soldier, strategist, scholar, politician, inspiring leader of men. My discourses to my husband about this book led to this magisterial biography being my birthday gift for 2021!
These are events that cast their long shadow on the politics of the Middle East to this day, and this book comprehensively traces where it all began, through the life of this remarkable man. It's a remarkable achievement, as Allawi also gives you a history of the MENA theatre of World War 1, all the disparate ethnicities and nations rebelling against Ottoman rule and incredible details about the Arab Revolt, and the various battles that led to their victory. He also gives you potted biographies of all the people involved, that capture all their contradictions and complexities-Allenby, Gertrude Bell, TE Lawrence, among others.'Lawrence of Arabia' might be a genuinely great movie ( and Allawi clearly thinks so too, and he makes several references to 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' as well. He doesn't hesitate to give credit where it's due, though, and all the credit does not go to TE Lawrence) but it's not the whole story! Throughout the Arab Revolt, there were constant political machinations that Faisal had to manage, and he had to balance the views of his father, Sharif Husein, an army of multiple ethnicities who were united only by their desire for independence from Ottoman rule, and didn't even speak each others' languages (the Iraqi and Syrian officers for instance, tended to disdain the rank and file, made up of Bedouin soldiers), the ambitions of Western nations all looking for their pound of flesh. Faisal wasn't even 40 when he had to handle all this!
His trials didn't stop with victory though-nations had to be built. It's wonderful that Allawi does not stint on details in this section of the book, that forms nearly 60% of it. He takes you through just how difficult it is to build nations top-down when you're also having to account for belligerent colonialists and their armies, where governments felt they had a right to deciding political boundaries and internal policies, since they had supplied arms and guidance to the Arab Revolt. While that's true, the Allies' motives for this weren't philanthropic, since they saw this as a way of weakening the powerful Ottoman EMpire. Faisal's attempts at democracy in Syria were completely derailed by French invasion, and British indifference. His next attempt was Iraq, where the British wanted a "friendly' ruler, who presumably wouldn't interfere with their Empire. With hindsight, it's easy to criticise some of Faisal's decisions as naive, and Allawi intends this book to be a corrective to his memory-he wasn't a stooge of Western imperialists, and a weak ruler. Beset on all sides by forces inimical to democratic government, he was trying to make the best of a very difficult situation. Allawi expertly traces out the faultlines in the aftermath of the Arab Revolt and the ruthless realpolitik involved in the way lands were divvied up among the victors, with no thought to ethnic or historical loyalties. This is an excellent biography, not just of a tragic figure in history, but also about geo-politics and nation building. The tragedy though, for me, was that nobody seems to have learned from these lessons of history, and the same mistakes have been repeated through the ages, with the exactly same catastrophic results, all of which can be traced right back to the hubris of this period.
It's very rare that one finishes a 500 page book and wishes it were longer. This is one of those books, and an important read to understand the world around you. Intensely readable throughout, all history books should be this nuanced.
These are events that cast their long shadow on the politics of the Middle East to this day, and this book comprehensively traces where it all began, through the life of this remarkable man. It's a remarkable achievement, as Allawi also gives you a history of the MENA theatre of World War 1, all the disparate ethnicities and nations rebelling against Ottoman rule and incredible details about the Arab Revolt, and the various battles that led to their victory. He also gives you potted biographies of all the people involved, that capture all their contradictions and complexities-Allenby, Gertrude Bell, TE Lawrence, among others.'Lawrence of Arabia' might be a genuinely great movie ( and Allawi clearly thinks so too, and he makes several references to 'Seven Pillars of Wisdom' as well. He doesn't hesitate to give credit where it's due, though, and all the credit does not go to TE Lawrence) but it's not the whole story! Throughout the Arab Revolt, there were constant political machinations that Faisal had to manage, and he had to balance the views of his father, Sharif Husein, an army of multiple ethnicities who were united only by their desire for independence from Ottoman rule, and didn't even speak each others' languages (the Iraqi and Syrian officers for instance, tended to disdain the rank and file, made up of Bedouin soldiers), the ambitions of Western nations all looking for their pound of flesh. Faisal wasn't even 40 when he had to handle all this!
His trials didn't stop with victory though-nations had to be built. It's wonderful that Allawi does not stint on details in this section of the book, that forms nearly 60% of it. He takes you through just how difficult it is to build nations top-down when you're also having to account for belligerent colonialists and their armies, where governments felt they had a right to deciding political boundaries and internal policies, since they had supplied arms and guidance to the Arab Revolt. While that's true, the Allies' motives for this weren't philanthropic, since they saw this as a way of weakening the powerful Ottoman EMpire. Faisal's attempts at democracy in Syria were completely derailed by French invasion, and British indifference. His next attempt was Iraq, where the British wanted a "friendly' ruler, who presumably wouldn't interfere with their Empire. With hindsight, it's easy to criticise some of Faisal's decisions as naive, and Allawi intends this book to be a corrective to his memory-he wasn't a stooge of Western imperialists, and a weak ruler. Beset on all sides by forces inimical to democratic government, he was trying to make the best of a very difficult situation. Allawi expertly traces out the faultlines in the aftermath of the Arab Revolt and the ruthless realpolitik involved in the way lands were divvied up among the victors, with no thought to ethnic or historical loyalties. This is an excellent biography, not just of a tragic figure in history, but also about geo-politics and nation building. The tragedy though, for me, was that nobody seems to have learned from these lessons of history, and the same mistakes have been repeated through the ages, with the exactly same catastrophic results, all of which can be traced right back to the hubris of this period.
It's very rare that one finishes a 500 page book and wishes it were longer. This is one of those books, and an important read to understand the world around you. Intensely readable throughout, all history books should be this nuanced.
January 31, 2021
An excellent biography of one of the greatest leaders to ever come out of the Middle East. His impact on the modern Middle East is undeniable. If you want more than just the hard facts then this is the book for you. Faisal was at the center of it all. From King of Syria to the King of Iraq and his impact on how the present day Middle East looks today can be read in this excellent biography.
July 9, 2019
This book was a nice surprise. It had been on my shelf for a few years, and I finally decided to pick it up after reading Fromkin's classic study of the making of the modern Middle East.
February 3, 2024
Yazar tarafından Faysal’ın hayatı yanlı anlatılmış olsa da o döneme dair verdiği bilgiler açısından öenmli bir kaynak.
March 1, 2016
Reading in compliment to other history books on this place and time, I found FASIAL 1 to be an excellent "fill in the gaps" on the history of the formation of Iraq and the overall struggle for self governance in Arabia. The writing is clear and precise. Very much appreciate the view of events through this political figure.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews