Sphinx and commissar: The rise and fall of Soviet influence in the Arab world

by Mohamed H. Heikal

Genres: History

303 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Rob M · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really very enjoyable book. The writing is journalistic - almost conversational - in tone and has a strong narrative structure. In a poignant foreshadowing of the fate that would later befall Soviet system, we get a sense of the optimism and prestige with which the they arrived in the middle East in the wake of Nasser's Egyptian revolution, and indignity and confusion in which their influence collapsed.

Although the text is highly accessible, a certain amount of prior knowledge of the contemporary world situation would probably help the reader to get the most from it. For someone with a good knowledge of the European Cold War, this book makes a fine introduction to the Cold War in the Middle East from the perspective of progressive Arab nationalism.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sphinx and the Commissar is the memoirs of Mohamed Heikal who served as a confidant of Nassar and Sadat while traveling extensively to meet with Soviets. The book published in 1978 captures a point in time when Soviet influence in the Middle East was wanning and the author backtracks to show all the misunderstandings that lead to the state of Soviet affairs at the time. The book walks through the various diplomatic adventures following World War II and through the Suez Crisis, the 1967 Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War and the Soviet response to each. It is a well written book that shows the intense geopolitical pressure and innerweb of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia along with the smaller groups of the PLO, Yemen and others. Although an older book it offers a unique insight from people on the ground at the time and is a great primary source for those trying to understand Soviet Diplomacy or Middle Eastern history.