The Struggle for Arab Independence: Riad el-Solh and the Makers of the Modern Middle East

by Patrick Seale

The Middle East, as we know it today, was shaped in the violent and tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century. The roots of many of the conflicts and crises which afflict the region today can be traced back to this period of wars, high drama and the cavalier re-drawing of maps. Patrick Seale, a leading historian of the region, tells the story of the making of the modern Middle East through the life of Riad el-Solh, a Lebanese politician who grew into the outstanding Arab statesman of his time. Based on British and French archives, and on numerous interviews, the book pieces together the history of the Arab struggle for independence through the lives of those most directly involved. It is an invaluable resource for students and researchers, and of compelling interest to anyone who wants to know more about the Middle East.

Genres: Middle East, History, Lebanon

820 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2010

About the author

Patrick Abram Seale was a Belfast-born journalist and author who specialised in the Middle East. A former correspondent for The Observer, he interviewed many Middle Eastern leaders and personalities. Seale was also a literary agent and art dealer.

Reviews

[Samy seddiq · Rating 4 out of 5]

هذا الكتاب لا يمثل السيرة الذاتية لأبو الإستقلال اللبناني، ولكنه تاريخ للعرب فى النصف الأول من القرن العشرين، ليست مقتصرة على رياض الصلح ولكنه يضم اكثر الساسة العرب الذين أثروا سلباً أو ايجاباً فى مصير هذه الامة فى سوريا ولبنان والعراق وفلسطين ومصر والجزيرة العربية. المؤسف ان هؤلاء الساسة إذا قارناهم بالشخصيات الموجودة حالياً وتتصدر المشهد فى الدول العربية سنكتشف انهم أقزام حقيقيين.
في الكتاب تاريخ نهاية الدولة العثمانية والحرب العربية وطموح الهاشميين فى الشام ودولة فيصل في سوريا التي اُجهضت بعد احتلالها من قبل فرنسا ثم إنشاء لبنان بدعم فرنسي الهجرة اليهودية الي ارض فلسطين وصولاً لحرب 48 وقيام دولة اسرائيل وعجز الدول العربية وجيوشها فقيرة العدة والعتاد امام جيش اسرائيل القوي والمدعوم من الغرب وروسيا واستقلال سوريا ولبنان ونشوء الطائفية فى لبنان التي لا زالت هي المرض المزمن لهذا البلد الجميل.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully researched with insights I have not found elsewhere. This work is full of detail, almost to a fault at times. If you are interested in the history of Lebanon or the Middle East, this book is a great choice. It's lengthy, but if you take the time to work through it -- it's worth it.