Product Description
Philip Robins' survey of Jordan's political history begins in the early 1920s, continues through the years of the British Mandate, and traces events over the next half century to the present day. Throughout the period, the country's fortunes wereclosely identified with its head of state, King Hussein, until his death in 1999. In the early days, as the author testifies, the king's prospects were often regarded as grim. However, both King and country survived a variety of existential challenges, from assassination attempts and internal subversion, to a civil war with the Palestine Liberation Organisation and, in the 1970s and 1980s, Jordan emerged as an apparently stable and prosperous state. However, King Hussein's death, the succession of his son, Abdullah II, andrecent political upheavalshave plunged the country back into uncertainty. This is an incisive account, compellingly told, about one of the leading players in the Middle East. Philip Robins is University Lecturer in Politics with special reference to the Middle East in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford. His most recent book is Suits and Uniforms: Turkish Foreign Policy since the Cold War (2003). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not a bad book, but not a great one either.I'd rate it 3.5/5
There isn't much written about the history of Jordan because there isn't that much to tell outside of the modern era. From the Crusades to the 1870's Jordan appears to be a rather uninteresting underpopulated backwater of the Ottoman empire. Ch I gives rather short shrift to the past before 1920.One concludes that Jordan is a modern construct and not a successor state, as might be considered to be the case of Egypt, Syria or Iran.Little is said here about the migration of Hashemites from the south or of the origins of roving Bedouins and the relationships of different groups of clans prior to the origin of the state, or why the Royal Family who were from Saudi Arabia were able to assume rule so easily.

The book's approach is to view the history of the country using Royal family as it's focus. We learn about issues of succession, the relationship between the Royals and various Prime Ministers, Parliament and key figures such as Glubb Pasha, the British Army Advisor who was on permanent loan to Jordan and head of Jordan's Army during the key time frame from 1939-'56. pp42-45 does give some limited information on the different tribal groups and credits Glubb as the establishing force for unity between the various tribes - the first time they had been united since the fall of the Ummayad Dynasty in 750 AD.

To a larger extent the book focused on personalities rather than policies. The treatment of the Royal family is nearly hagiographic, reserving itself for only the mildest criticism.A second example is in the coverage of the various individual holding the post of Prime Minister, in particular the rivalry between Wasfi al-Tall and Bahjat al-Talhuni. 'Tall was energetic, loud and on occasions,course.Talhuni was quiet and careful. Tall was direct, stubborn and bullying;Talhuni was a more devious political operator.' pp108.

The most interesting section of the book deals with the Jordan's relationship with ethnic Palestinians.In 1950 a Palestinian delegation proposed and received unification of both sides of the Jordan.King Abdallah encouraged integration by revising parliament so that there was equal representation to the East and West Bank, not quite fair by % of population but not inconsistent with the allocation of seats in the rest of the world which recognize not only numbers of people but give weight to geographic units.Over the following yearseconomic of policy favored the eastern half of the country centering on the capital Amman.

Particularly fascinating was the coverage of the battle for representation of Palestinians after the Six Day War.King Hussein promoted the concept of a "United Arab Kingdom"(UAK), appealing to pan-Jordan sentiments amongst ethnic Palestinians on both sides of the Jordan.At the Rabat Conference in 1974 Egypt, which constructed the PLO attempted to usurp Hussein's authority by proposing the PLO be "the sole representative of the Palestinian people"on BOTH sides of the Jordan.Hussein managed to get Sadat to modify the language to exclude those living on the East Bank within Jordan.(pp138).

The author could have done a better job on covering the economic history. On pp 166 the author suddenly mentions that Jordan in 1988-89 had become an economic basket case with the highest per capita debt in the world, needing to be bailed out by the IMF, though there is some lead in on pp112 where it is revealed that 75% of all imports were paid for from abroad. There is a useful chart on pp167 showing the growth of the deficit.Additionally for years the Jordanian economy had not been self sufficient and was entirely reliant on funds supplied to it by neighbouring oil rich states. A little build up to this would have been revealing and there is no reference to the reasons why the neighbouring rentier States would want to prop up the monarchy or the basis as to how these sums were negotiated

For an Israeli perspective on Jordan Robin uses and seems to recommend the late historian Uriel Dann.The bibliography at the back is an excellent starting point for further investigationthough most references are to papers and books that might be unavailable outside of a university setting - that might change if more of this material becomes available through the web. I should also mention anotherbook which I'm currently reading is Ancient Jordan from the Air which is a veritabletreasure trove of information about settlement in the area, confirming the general decline between the 3rd and 19th century.

Notwithstanding some of the deficiencies describe above I would recommend this book as a good starting point on modern Jordan.Some of the treatments are superficial but there is a kernel of good material.

From Backwater to Strategic Ally
Jordan is a nation that according to some accounts, was "dreamed of from the backseat of Churchill's car." Formerly an Ottoman ruled area, Jordan Stretches from the Syrian Desert in the north to the Gulf of Aqaba in the south. the nation was considered by most to be a backwater inhabited by various Bedouin tribes. It is interesting to note that on Amazon.com I have seen only a few histories of this pivotal nation, when you search for "Jordan" most of the results deal with basketball player Michael Jordan. This book came as a fresh surprise.

After the allied victory in 1918, over the Central Powers (including the Ottoman Empire), Ottoman lands were split up by the victorious French and British.As a result the nation that later became known as Transjordan and later Jordan was administered by British as part of the Mandate of Palestine. Another result of World War 1 was that England's former ally the Sherif of Mecca needed to be rewarded for his assistance. After the French kicked Abdullah out of Damascus, the English had to give him some slice of land, that "slice" was Jordan.

Later in 1922 Jordan gained "independence" from the British Palestine Mandatebecoming Transjordan, and achieving full independence in 1946. After the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 Jordan had complete control over the West Bank and the Eastern half of Jerusalem. Later in 1967 Jordan lost control of the West Bank and 3 years later fought a civil war with Palestinians (and Syria).

In the present time Jordan has proved itself to be not just some desert backwater inhabited by warring Bedouin tribes. It has become a geographically strategic nation, bordering Syria, oil rich Saudi Arabia, war torn Iraq, and Israel. This nation has seen a succession moderate kings who have pushed for peace with Israel in addition to a tourist Mecca (with sites like Petra and resorts like Aqaba).

Robins has done quite an exstensive job explaining the many facets of Jordanian culture, history, and politics. From when the Ottomans ruled to the modern era, the author has delved into a wide variety of topics ranging from the influence of Islamists on Jordanian politics, the result of massive influxes of Palestinians (that are now over half of the population), descriptions of leaders ranging from Wasfi Tall to King Abdullah, to how familial and tribal relations still effect the nation.

The book while only about 200 pages long does offer a very exstensive and well written history of this nation. I would recommend this to anyone studying the Middle East. While it is a shame that many books on this small nation have not been forthcomming, this book does a very good job at explaining the nation, its people, and its politics. ... Read more

Product Description
Readers of Princess and Princess Sultana's Daughters, theinternational bestselling books about Princess Sultana, were grippedby the revelations of a life of unimaginable wealth and shocking humanrights abuses inside the royal family of Saudi Arabia.

Due toreaders' tremendous outpouring of interest and affection for Sultana,the author and the Princess now continue their efforts to end theoutrageous human rights abuses against women, which occur all toofrequently in Saudi Arabia and in other countries.

With PrincessSultana's Circle, the extraordinary story of Sultana continues. Theforced marriage of Sultana's niece to a cruel and depraved older man,and Sultana's discovery of the harem of sex slaves kept by a royalcousin, makers her more determined than ever to fight the oppressionof women in Saudi Arabia.

Princess Sultana's Circle paints ahorrifying reality for women of the desert kingdom. It is a hauntinglook at the danger of Saudi male dominance and the desperate lives ofthe women they rule. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (66)

Full of lies...
When you do not come from an Arabic country, reading this book might be extremely horrifying because of the events that take place in the story. However, if you are an Arab then you know that the events stated in this book will never occur. Saudi Arabia is a country, it has rules and laws, and there are many mnay laws that protect women in Saudi Arabia regardless of what this book says. Many of the information about the Islamic religion is false as well. If you want to read a book to get a sense of what women's lives are in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world then do yourself a favor and do not read this book! Our lives, thank God, are wonderful. We have our rights, and we are equal to men. There is no law that demeans women in the Arabian world. I am an Arab, I am a woman, I come from an open-minded society (Kuwait), and yet I am strongly against this book because it does not speak the truth.

Princess sultana's circle
I have read this book.It's been awhile ,though.It was very good.Then I came across another of her books which I also read. It was good also.I read so many books that the name has slipped my mind.But I'll check into the titles again. I will make sure I read the 3rd as well.Good job.You are braver than I am. Nadia N. Rehmani(author of " Sharper Than A Two Edged Sword-a true story of one woman's walk into islam and out.)

Great Read!
Havent had time to sit down and finish the book yet but I cant wait! The first two were great and the first two chapters of this one were good too.

Fascinating tale
Having read the previous 2 books, I enjoyed this one no less. The second book was pretty good, but this one was great because of Sultana's maturity and the ending of this book.

Now, I am well-aware of the plagiarism suit - and have read the article on it - and the detractors and their complaints, but these books already came with the disclaimer that some events had been altered, not just the names. Still, whether this Princess Sultana IS a real person is in the air and hotly debated, so I won't touch on that.

Some people say this book is bad because it offers a horrible view on Arab men. Now, think. In Saudi Arabia, where the line between men and women is clearly drawn, women and men cannot interact in a normal way like Americans, Europeans, and other countries are fortunate enough to have and enjoy. But not all men are bad - Sultana's husband despite his flaws is a decent guy, and so is her son. Still, even the nice guys have a hard time dealing with Sharia law, as they themselves are also punished and restricted by it (but of course, to a far lesser extent than women!)

Some people don't like it because of the horrible things - but newsflash! - these things DO happen, and not just in Saudi Arabia. Slavery, whether manual or sexual, still exist, and nobody should be surprised. Slavery even exists here in America with citizens importing illegal aliens with either threats or deception to keep them in their houses to clean, cook, and what not, even sex. And if that is happening here, in AMERICA - the land of the free, where our founding fathers declared we had the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness - why should anyone be surprised it happens in other countries, especially one with such strict - and backward - laws as the Middle East?

Another complaint from detractors is the description of some things, like the weddings. Now, remember, the al-Sauds are one of the wealthiest families in the world. I found Sultana's description of things like her jewelry, home, gardens and what not - to be fascinating even if I did feel a bit envious (hard not to) but rich Americans put on ostentatious displays of wealth as well, so again, it's not surprising.

Now as to Ms. Sasson's claim to have met and knowing this Princess... well, I don't find it as far-fetched as the detractors. The place where she worked, the King Faisal Hospital, is the largest in the Middle East and hires plenty of foreigners as staff, and is the place where many royals - including other princesses - go to (and die, sometimes), so it's not hard to imagine that they met when Sultana was there for herself, her kids, or just visiting one of her relatives.

I am no expert of the Middle East or Islam nor do I claim to be, but I have done some studying and reading of the al-Saud clan and other things touched on in this book to give me a better understanding of its content. In short, I really enjoyed this book and the trilogy itself as well, as well as what I learned in my additional reading/research. The short appendix and information on Saudi Arabia in the back of this book makes for great trivia.

I hope there will be a fourth book, as the ending of this third book offers great promise for another exciting installment to this tale. With Sultana's maturity and the revelations she has by the end of this book, as well as the actions she takes and will take, I would love to see another story as Sultana develops her Circle further.

IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THIS PRINCESS DOES NOT EXIST
PRINCESS, as well asDAUGHTERS OF ARABIA andDESERT ROYALare fakes. There is no Saudi Arabian Princess Jean P.Sasson claims she befriended who asked her to write this books. Nor did Jean P. Sasson have as i n g l esheet of paper from a diary of a Princess to write these books from,If you want to know the truth about Jean Sasson and those books why not Google:THE PRINCESS SULTANA HOAX before you read any one of Jean Sasson's books. ... Read more

Product Description
By any measure, Nader Shah--founder of the Afsharid Dynasty--ranks as a towering figure in Iranian history. Rising from the humblest of origins, he became a military commander of genius, restored an embattled Persia to imperial greatness, and proceeded to wield the power of the throne with a ruthlessness that approached derangement. Yet much about the man and his tumultuous times remains obscure. This book peers into the shadows by drawing on unusual source materials--unpublished letters and reports written by the staff of the Dutch East India Company, who watched in dismay as the tyrant sacrificed the nation s economic health (and Dutch hopes for trade) to feed his war machine. The book looks at his entire life: how a shepherd boy mastered fighting skills, assembled armies, reunited Iran and freed it from Afghan occupation, invaded and plundered both India and Ottoman Turkey, and crowned himself Nader Shah of Iran after usurping the Safavid throne in 1736. Because there are no other contemporary reports, published or unpublished, of this length and geographical scope, much of the information offered here is unique. Nader Shah, who not only ruined neighboring countries but also his own, is depicted in all his fury and bloodthirstiness--traits often glossed over by later court chroniclers. At times the Dutch observers are so sickened by his total disregard for the well-being of his country and for human life that they pray to God to release Iran from his hold. Release came in 1747, when he was taken by surprise in his bed and assassinated--but not before first killing two of the attackers. For the first time in English, The Rise and Fall of Nader Shah makes these primary-source eyewitness reports of an important period in Iranian history available to historians and students alike. ... Read more

Product Description
PEN/West Award Finalist


"        Told with energy, perception and great charm. . . . For anyone who wants     to . . . gain insight into the great cultural and political richness of Iran, past, present and future, this book is a marvelous introduction."        
--Fred Halliday, Los Angeles Times

Iran was the first country in the Middle East to develop an oil industry, and oil has been central to its tumultuous twentieth-century history. A finalist for the PEN/West Award, Blood and Oil tells the epic inside story of the battle for Iranian oil. A prominent member of one of Iran's most powerful aristocratic families--so feared by Khomeini that the entire clan was blacklisted--Prince Manucher Farmanfarmaian was raised in a harem at the heart of Iran's imperial court. With wit and provocative detail, he describes the days when he served as the Shah's oil adviser and pioneered the partnership that resulted in OPEC. Beautifully written and epic in its scope, this scintillating memoir provides a fascinating history of modern Iran.

"        Distinguished by its political acumen, historical sense, and vividness of description and anecdote. It is also notable for a wry sense of humour. . . . Amid the euphoria about the development of the oilfields of Central Asia and the Transcaucasus, [its] lesson should be kept in mind."  
                                         --Anatol Lieven, Financial Times

"A book of stunning beauty . . . One of the best accounts of the cultural and political life of modern Iran, it is exquisite and intimate, rendered with art-istry and detail."                                                                     --Fouad Ajami ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Blood & Oil Was A Well Written Historic and Personal Memoir
I loved this book. A very believable easy to read family biography written by a member of the upper class in Iran.A wonderful history of the British Colonial Rule and the founding of Britisn Petroleum and OPEC. Relates Irans dealings with the major British, American and Dutch Oil giants as told by one of the fonders of OPEC.It gives you a whole new perspective on the over-throw of the Shah by the Ayatollah and Irans mistrust of the West.

engaging account of Iran
I came to this book interested more in the history of AIOC (Anglo-Iranian Petroleum Company). After reading these long worthy pages, I cannot but to praise the author for his engaging account of the Twentieth century history of Iran, although is just one view of the events, one side of the history.

This book provide a rich insight of the culture, religion and life of Persia, but also, the rol of Britain, United States and France in some of the important moments of Iran. This book is an excellent source in order to know more about the creation of OPEC, Venezuela's oil policy, Mossadeq overthrown and the description of the Ayatollah Khomeini bloody revolution. After reading these pages you realize how difficult is to rule in Iran since there are lots of conflict of interest and self interest, corruption and a powerful clergy, at least in those years.

In my opinion, and despite it may sound as cliché, Iran must learn from its history and errors. I only wish the best for Iran, peace and prosperity for its people. It all depends on its goverment and the strategy they take to become part of this globalized world and to live in peace. ... Read more

Product Description
In this reissue of the abridged paperback edition of his critically acclaimed Collusion Across the Jordan, Professor Shlaim chronicles King Abdullah's relationship with the Zionist movement from his appointment as Emir of Transjordan in 1921 to his assassination in 1951. With a new Introduction, placing the book in the wider context of the on-going debate about 1948,this masterly and authoritative study is essential reading for all those interested in the politics of the Middle East. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

King Abdulla was a Real Politician
King Abdullah, the founder of Jordan, and son of Sherif Hussein, and grandfather of King Hussein, was a real Arab politician, that I believe Avi has given mostly the best of judgment.

I believe, that this man has found a school in Arab politics, and this school has breeded politicians like King Hussein and his son, King Abdullah, Presidents Sadat of Egypt, Burqeiba of Tunisia, and Kings Hassan of Morroco and his son Muhamed the 6th.

Political Realism mixed with all the prudence and wisdom, is what came out of those who have followed this school.

Avi, is a great writer of our times, and a good researcher, I love to read for. However, and like all of us, he has some bias while writting for the his country. However, this is difficult to get rid of, when you are talking about the Arab Israeli conflict, since it is a conflict that is so deep in this soil, that it is so difficult to get rid off.

Excellent account of Jordan's formation, Abdullah & 1948
While much maligned, Avi Shlaim writes an honest and cogent history of Abdullah, Jordan, British involvement in the Middle East and the conflict between Palestinians and Jews leading to 1948.His viewpoint, which many in the dwindling "Peace Now" movement share, needs to be understood.The history he writes is like nothing you will get reading mainstream writers like Bernard Lewis. Don't be scared away by those who say Shlaim's writings are "radical left-wing propaganda."It is nothing of the sort...simply an opinion based on what we should know any ethnic group is capable of doing to "others."

One of the best books on early Zionist-Jordanian relations
I read the unabridged version of the Politics of Partition (called "Collusion Across the Jordan") and found it to be an excellent history.My only regret is that Shlaim didn't keep his original title.In reaction to an earlier review, Efraim Karsh's book "FabricatingIsraeli History" DOES NOT disprove Shlaim's assertions at all. Karsh's problem is that he can't tolerate the facts that have beenuncovered since Israel's thirty-year law made thousands (perhaps millions)of pertinent documents available.Anyone who reads both books will seethat Karsh does not even begin to disprove the well-documented historieswritten by the revisionist Israeli historians (Benny Morris, Avi Shlaim,Ilan Pappe, Uri Milstein, or Avner Cohen, to name some of the mostprominent).I highly suggest Shlaim's book along with Benny Morris's book"The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem" and"TheRoad Not Taken" by Itamar Rabinovich.These were some of the firstbooks to reveal how Zionist leaders dealt pragmatically and forcefully withtheir Arab neighbors to create the new Jewish state.

STILL nothing new about the "New Historians".
His central thesis has been answered by everyone from Daniel Pepes and Shabtai Teveth, to Ephraim Karsh's new book "Fabricating Israeli History". He fabricateswhole JAE speeches, mistranslates texts, andliterally concocts a "Zionist Mythology" straw man to destroy. Hefails. REad Karsh's book. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

A Methodical Assessment
A solid assessment of a poorly understood monarch's policies, this new historical biography adds significant new details on King Faysal, certainly one of the Arab World's towering figures.The reader is invited to judge for himself and while extremists and fundamentalists (whether they happen to be Jewish, Christian or Muslim) will be unhappy with its findings, the narrative provides rare insights on the King's thinking based on primary documents, speeches given by the King, declassified documents, and interviews with former American diplomats who knew Faysal well.

A Waste of Precious Bookshelf Space
I am currently a graduate student studying at one of the leading ME studies programs in the country. Our class was given this book for free and our professor asked us to review the book. I can honestly say that this is the worst, most blatantly apologist, uncritical, "academic" piece I have ever been assigned to read about the Middle East. Where can I even begin with all the flaws of this book?

1) As is made blatantly evident in the acknoweldgments section and the introduction, Kechichian received his funding for this book from basically family members of Faysal, and conducted the majority of his research with the assistance of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies. I'm just going to hypothesize that this might help explain the completely uncritical tone he takes towards King Faysal during the entire book. Though Faysal was undoubtedly a great king, he was not a saint, and failing to address his (sometimes) harsh responses to potential threats as well as his oft-cited anti-Semitism helps to completely undermine any semblance of objectivity.

2) Lack of citations. I appreciate that citations are not the end all be all of what makes for a serious academic work, but Kechichian has a tendency to make statements that contradict basically every other work on the Middle East (for instance, his denigration of St. John Philby, a British citizen who converted to Islam and was one of King Abdul Aziz's most trusted advisors) without providing any evidence to support his statements. This really only further leaves the reader feeling that this book is propaganda, as the most unsupported claims tend to conveniently explain away incidents that might taint King Faysal by attributing them as misunderstandings or to the devious machinations of others. Along these lines, he also speaks about King Faysal's thoughts and feelings as if he knew what was going on inside Faysal's head...without explination as to how he came to know this. One might almost forget that these two have never met, since he describes King Faysal as if he knew him and his emotions intimately, again, without citation.

3) Factual errors. The book is riddled with typos, factual errors, and even a paragraph that is duplicated in the book. Our copy came with a little insert to try to account for this, but it did not cover even half of the errors. I can't imagine trying to cite this piece for my own research, I would not feel that I could confidently rely on any date he provided, nor the portrayal of any situation.

4) Stylistically as well, the book ends up reading like a superficial, shoddy recapitulation of the history of Saudi Arabia from 1800 to present with little bits about King Faysal interjected in the midst.

5) For anyone sensitive to orientalist tones, he or she will be happily greeted by ridiculous statements such as this: King Faysal displayed a work ethic uncharacteristic for men of the region (read: men of the region, Arabs, do not have work ethic). Don't worry there are plenty more gems where that came from.

Anyways, these are just a few of the major flaws of the book. Not a single person in my class had a good word to say about the book, they all blasted it just as severely. I seriously considered throwing this book away since, given the lack of room on my bookshelf, I can't really afford to waste room with such a horrible excuse for academia, even if it was free. I would seroiusly recommend waiting for Vassiliev's book on King Faysal that The Economist reports will be coming out next year, there's no way it could not be better than this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review
Thanks to films like The Ten Commandments and The Prince of Egypt, Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses II (1301-1235 B.C.) is forever seen by the Western world as a heartless, bloodthirsty tyrant who lorded over Hebrew slaves until he was bested by Moses. French scholar Bernadette Menu's small but detailed book sets the record straight about this much-maligned leader, who reigned for an astonishing 66 years as the absolute ruler of a domain stretching from the present-day Sudan to Syria and built great statues bearing his likeness, which continue to inspire awe. "He was blessed with exceptional longevity, was spouse and lover of the most beautiful women of his time, husband to four or five of his own daughters and father to some 100 children," Menu writes. "He was a pious ruler and bold general ... [and] an enthusiastic patron of art and architecture." Through artwork, masonry, and texts by Greek historians and Egyptian scribes who recorded his exploits--and through the research of modern Egyptologists--we discover Ramesses's early successes in foreign policy and diplomacy. There's also the marvel of his massive funeral temple, the Ramesseum, and his eternal resting place in the Valley of the Kings. Menu's exhaustive work and the numerous accompanying photographs illuminate the true character of a misunderstood giant of the ancient world. --Eugene Holley Jr. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A helpful little companion
The benefits of this series is that they provide a good amount of info for the casual reader, along with great illustrations and useful texts.I got this particular book on Ramesses for my mom who is reading the bestselling historical fiction about him.The illustrations alone are worth the price of the book -- often of the same caliber as those hideously expensive coffee table books.The text is fine, albeit brief... but again these books are primarily for general readers and great in that regard.This book would also be great for younger readers who have been struck by the "Indiana Jones" bug.Interested readers may also wish to check out the Cleopatra book from this same series, which deals with the last gasp of Egypt as an independent power.

Great, concise, factual.
For all who love Egyptology, this little book is great. Very helpful, with lots of clear pictures. A delight!

Value in a small volume
I bought this book after my trip to Egypt. What the other reviewers say is absolutely true- this is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-documented book about Ramses II, his accomplishments (real and self-aggrandized) and greater Egypt at the time, with historic detail that further illustrates the WHYs and HOWs of the Ramses phenomenon, and not pedantic at all. It is also copiously and beautifully illustrated. - So, how come the very low price and my four star rating (instead of five)? This book is about thin pocketbook or field-guide size, one of publisher Harry Abrams' "Discoveries" series, so the sumptious illustrations are quite small, and some eye strain may be necessary to grasp the detail. This book is light enough you can take it on your trip to Egypt. Buy it with the knowledge that this is not your coffee table souvenir book of your once-in-a-lifetime Egypt trip; full size would have earned it five stars plus in my book.

Some Truth about Ramesses
Finally, a book which without being overbearing gives the reader a greatoverview of the amazing man known as Ramesses II!Well written andenjoyable to read, "Ramesses II, Greatest of the Pharaohs" is abeautifully illustrated guide to the life of one of history's mostinteresting men.I was very impressed with the attention paid to the godsand the impact they had on the kings of the 19th dynasty, as well as thelisting of Ramesses known advisors, sons and wives.All in all, a veryenjoyable book for those with an interest in Ramesses and Ancient Egypt.

An excellent overview of the mighty King of Egypt
This is one in a series of books which overviews significant people andevents in history.In this book the life and accomplishments of RamessesII is chronicled and given in good detail.Not only is the book aboutRamesses but attention is also give to what an average Egyptian's world waslike during the reign of Ramesses II.

The pictures in here areoutstanding from Abu Simbel to Piramesse and ultimately Ramesseum, hismortuary temple, the pictures are clear and the colors are excellent. Ramesses life is shown on temple walls, statues and other records.Thiswas truely a great and powerful king.His empire was vast, yet he couldgovern it with an iron fist if need be.Ramesses's mummy is one of themost photographed mummy's of today, yet I wonder if given life, what hewould say and it would be fascinating to listen to his life andaccomplishments.

The Egyptian gods are also detailed here, as they weremost important in an Egyptian's daily life, from Pharaoh to slave.Alsogiven in the book, is the possible relationship between Moses (Egyptianword for Moses is "Mes") and Ramesses.

Overall, this is afascinating read and highly recommended to all amatuer and professionalEgyptologists. ... Read more

Product Description
The life of Taj al-Saltana, daughter of the ruler of Iran, Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, epitomized the predicaments of her changing era. Overcoming her limited education within the harem walls, Taj chronicled a thirty-year span in the life of a generation that witnessed a shift from traditional order to revolutionary flux. It is as though she had chosen this moment to recall her personal history--a tale filled with "wonder and anguish"--in order to record a cultural and political leap, symbolic of her time, from the indulgent, sheltered, and often petty world of her father's harem to the puzzling and exposed, yet emotionally and intellectually challenging world of a new Iran.

Now almost one hundred years later Taj's memoirs are relevant and qualify her not only as a feminist by her society's standards but also in comparison with feminists of her generation in Europe and America. Beyond her fascination for the material glamour of the West at the turn of the twentieth century--fashion, architecture, furniture, the motorcar--she was also influenced by Western culture's painting, music, history, literature and language. And yet throughout this time she kept her bond with her own literary and cultural heritage and what she calls her "Persianness."

Despite her troubled life of agony--an unloving and harsh mother; a benevolent but self-indulgent father; an adolescent, bisexual husband; separation from her children; financial difficulties; the stigma of leading a libertine lifestyle and the infamy of removing her veil--Taj's is a genuine voice for women's social grievances in late 20th-century Iran, and one that reveals a remarkable woman in her own right.

"A Thousand and One Nights meets Raise the Red Lantern in this tale of growing up among royal wives and concubines in what is now Iran. . . . Taj saw and recorded a changing society, dissected the role of women in it, and questioned its conventions." (Booklist)

"In this startlingly frank account of life in a Qajar harem, Taj al-Saltana exposes herself and the royal Persian court to public scrutiny. . . . This she does candidly, not only revealing her innermost thoughts and feelings, but also expressing often uncomplimentary views on her country and countrymen. Her account reveals exceptional political awareness among the women in the harem. . . . A treasure-trove of photos of a now bygone era embellish, enhance, and round out this portrait of a fascinating moment in Iran's long and troubled history." (Middle East Journal)

"Taj's account of her childhood in the royal harem is the only account so far by an insider." (Los Angeles Times)

"While the feminist sentiments of the young woman appear modern, it is the simplicity and directness of Taj's personality that makes the work memorable." (Library Journal)

"Taj al-Saltana's memoirs bring home the intense conflicts of a life straddling the harem and modernism. The publishers have succeeded in producing a handsome volume, well stocked with plates and illustrations. Amanat's useful historical sketch enables the book to be appreciated by the general reader as well as the student, reminding us yet again, of the inevitable need to make one well-known, aspect of a Middle Eastern culture familiar to the West." (Times Literary Supplement) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

In the name of Iran
This book was a non-fiction story of daughter of King of Kings Naser Din. She expressed her difficult circumstances of her life as a lady living in a patriarchy society. Once, she learned secular education she moved away from superstitution. She no longer believed that lighting was god's anger but because of scientific reason. In 1936, she passed away as a destituted person.

Persian Princess
A good primary source, of which few exist. I wanted to point out to one of the reviewers that the language of Iran (Persia) is Persian and NOT Arabic. The memoirs were written in Taj's native Persian (not Arabic) and then translated into English.

I don't think so...
I was required to read this book for a class on the history of the modern Middle East. I thought this would be one of the more interesting textbooks that I have to read this semester. I was wrong; this thing is painful.
I've been informed by a friend of mine from the area that it probably loses something in the transition from Arabic to English, but to me the whole thing is overwritten, self centered and features the "heroine" blaming her problems largely on society. Of course she does go into detail about that society, providing the historical value, but still. In places it reads like a manuscript rejected from Harlequin Romance Novels.
If you really want a picture of life in the Middle East. read "Struggle and Survival in the Modern Middle East" by Edmund Burke. Gives a better pictue.

Crowning Anguish
I was largely disappointed with this book - I expected an autobiographical glimpse into the life of a pioneering feminist Iranian princess and her family.What I got was a "dear diary"-style mess penned by a selfish and astonishingly conceited young woman.Princess Taj al-Saltana's memoir of her life in her father's harem is loaded with self-aggrandizing statements and little else. Granted, the princess' spoiled brat mentality and overblown self image are undoubtedly products of her coddled earlier life as the daughter of the Shah, however, the constant self promotion makes for terribly boring reading.Taj rehashes the same themes and stories time and again, all while constantly paying homage to her own alleged beauty and intellect. I am sorry to say that the princess' method of relating her story was tiresome, and I couldn't wait for it to end.I found myself rolling my eyes each time I came across a ludicrous reference to her great beauty or amazing mental capacity -- her photographs and her actions do not quite measure up to her excessive claims.I was also disappointed by the lack of information regarding harem life.For example, while she writes of the rituals involved with marriage, her disjointed writing style and intense self-focus give the reader only a fleeting idea of what actually happened during her marriage ceremony.The princess' writing is unfocused and often skips back and forth in time, making her story difficult to follow.The reader is provided with very little useful information about royal harem life.The princess' interest in civil rights for Iranian women is overshadowed by her greater interest in her own freedom to do as she pleases.

The book was edited by Abbas Amanat, who provides a dry and lengthy prologue (of just over 100 pages) which sets the stage for the princess' memoir.I found it puzzling at first that the prologue was so long, however, I soon recognized the need for it.The princess provides very little historical orientation in her memoir, and it is necessary for the editor to fill his readers in with pertinent information regarding the political and social atmosphere in turn-of-the-century Iran.While I agree that the intended topic of "Crowning Anguish" is fascinating, those interested in learning about harem life would be better off skipping this book.

A memoir of Great significance to feminism and Qajar History
A truly tragic account of the life of a Persian Princess in the nineteenthcentury, this book will touch nerves even today.But asidefromrecounting a life, Taj Al-Saltana's memoir makes three significantcontributions to the history of Persia.First and foremost, it is anoriginal and quite possibly the first modern-day feminist book by a Persianwoman on the condition of women in Taj's era.Second, her memoir isimmensely important to understanding life in the Qajar Dynasty's royalharem. Finally, this book allows the most private look into King NassirAl-Din's life.Nassir Al-Din ruled Persia for nearly one half of thenineteenth century.

This book comes with a detailed introduction fromits editor Professor A. Amanat of Yale University.The intro is in-depth,reader friendly, and helps set the stage for understanding Taj's era andlife in Persia.I would highly recommend the Book "Pivot of the Universe"also by Amanat, on the life of Taj Al-Saltana's father, King Nassir Al-DinQajar. ... Read more

Product Description
The author, known for a wide range of scholarly historical studies, here turns the tables on modern revisionist historians by showing exactly how bad a king John actually was, and in contrast how impressive Richard “Lionheart” was, in his narrative about the vicious, compelling world of the Plantagenets.


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A book that gets stuck in your throat
I recently read Adrian Goldsworthy's biography on Gaius Julius Caesar, and one of the things that I liked about it was the way Mr Goldsworthy provides the reader with plenty of information, and then allows you to form your own opinion of Caesar.

That's the main reason why I don't care for Mr McLynn's "Lionheart and Lackland". He doesn't provide the facts and leave the assesments to the reader, rather he stuffs his own personal views down your throat as early as in the foreword. And that's a shame, because he is not a bad writer at all. But he is much too intent on convincing his readers of the magnificence of King Richard and the wickedness of King John...time and time again he reminds the reader that Jean Sans Terre was a bad, bad man and that all his apologists have got it wrong, and you just get tired of being told what to think, to be quite honest.

And McLynn's shameless portrayal of King Richard as the clean-cut crusading hero of the English monarchy is just as annoying. Had the story of these two brothers been told in a more objective (and well-researched) fashion, it would have been very interesting indeed...but it isn't. The reader is being hit over the head again and again with the same simplistic points: All this just goes to show that John was very bad, now, you mustn't forget that. A bad man and a bad king. And Richard was very, very brave and wise and a very good king.

And yes, John Lackland probably was an unprincipled opportunist, and he certainly wasn't a very succesful king, in spite of his many obvious talents. But why this fawning portrayal of Richard the Lionheart? Most Brits today know that Richard disliked England, spoke little or no English, and only visited the country for a very short while (in order to raise money).
He was a real old-fashioned knight, tall and handsome and personally brave, a great general and a charismatic leader. But he was also greedy, selfish, vindictive, and occationally cruel, with no regard at all for the wellbeing of his English subjects. Echoing historian William Stubbs, the great Steven Runciman called Richard I "a bad son, a bad husband, and a bad king...but a gallant and splendid soldier". He was certainly all of the first three.

Oh, and stay the hell away from this book. It's badly researched, patronizing, and unreliable, based partly on guesswork and the author's personal prejudices. [Yeah, sorry about that!] ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Alwaleed did it with integrity and style!
There are many billionaries listed with Forbes.But in Saudi Arabia, Alwaleed rules.It is a good book to learn the strategies and success of what he did. He did not get rich, using oil money as you might suspect.
I would recommend this book to all.

Extremely fawning treatment of the royal, but with some insightful information
This book is extremely fawning (sickeningly so), and it is obvious without it being written anywhere that Alwalweed would only participate in the biography if he had full control over the final product. He has a massive ego that comes through on every single page.

Salient points:

1. This book manages to bring up Israel *A-gain.* Big surprise.
2. Strangely, there are no pictures of any of Alwaleeds wives anywhere in the photos section. (It is said that cameras are not allowed to take photos of any of them.)
3. It is very surprising to find out that the author is from a family of moderates and that Arab royalty seems to be as much distinguished by country of origin (even though these countries are all relatively recent) as by anything else.
4.This book teaches some very interesting things about the nature of banking-- but all these facts are not presented in a technical, unapproachable way.
5. It was obviously an imporant thing to Alwaleed to make the point that he made his money from ways OTHER than oil. This is reiterated *many* times throughout the book. The conclusion that one comes away with is: No, it was not strictly oil that made his money, but royal connections/ nepotism accounted for a healthy chunk of it.
6. The prose is very light and easy to read, and the whole thing can be put away in about 2 afternoons of reading.

This is worth buying on the second hand shelf if you can find it.

crushingly vapid
Probably the most salient thing you need to know about this book is that it's the OFFICIAL biography of the billionaire Saudi prince.Its author, Riz Khan, is a Yemenite who works at Al-Jazeera TV.The book was originally published in Lebanon.

It's doesn't actually SAY "official" anywhere on it, but the book was made with extensive assistance and encouragement from Al-Waleed himself, and explicit cooperation from the Saudi government.In a country where even Mickey Mouse and "Little House on the Prarie" have been banned, you can find a copy of it in nearly every corner bookstore (not that there are many in the region).In fact, it's quite common to see it in shops and airports all over the Middle East.

So you'd better believe there isn't a single negative word anywhere in it about Saudi culture, the Saudi royal family, or, of course, the main subject, the alluring Prince Waleed.Everything's hunky-dory!

So if we can't criticize, that pretty much leaves what . . . ?

Did somebody say praise?Why, praise it is!Did you know, gentle reader, that between loving his family wholeheartedly, wishing only the best for the world at large, and praying five times a day, the brilliant and raffish Prince Waleed is also an accomplished mountain climber, linguist, chef, author, skydiver, bodybuilder, musician, archaeologist, patriot, photographer, zoologist, pilot, historian, wine connoisseur, chess whiz, hunter, fashion designer, gymnast, philanthropist, bear wrestler, psychologist, pearl diver, stamp collector, tank commander, belly dancer, magician, software programmer, antiques buff, croquet master, Arctic explorer, pearl diver, entomologist, kappelmeister, physicist, sculptor, alchemist, mathematician, acupunturist, shark hunter, car collector, lutenist, Civil War aficionado, polo player, scrabble champion, zymurgist, yoga enthusiast, bridge player, and world-renowned expert on cigars?

Need I say more?

Businessman, Billionaire, Prince

Impressive bio ... However, authot repeats a lot of facts/opinions..

Blah, blah, blah
Not really an insightful book.Not even worthy of a gossip column.

... Read more

Product Description
A comprehensive investigation of the Kushite kingdom, present day northern Sudan, which briefly controlled Egypt during the 8th century BC and influenced Egyptian affairs for hundreds of years. Morkot examines ancient and antiquarian perceptions of the exotic lands of Nubia and Ethiopia and attempts to tie the towns of Kush to archaeological remains. A large part of the book concentrates on the role of the Nubians during Egypt's conflicts with Libya and the Assyrians. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An interesting introduction to the Kushite Kingdoms o f Nubia
Robert Morkot's contribution on Nubia in "Centuries of Darkness" by Peter James prompted me to buy this book. His chapter on the origins of the Kushite kingdom interested me primarily because, quite apart from the chronological controversy, I knew very little about the civilisations of the Africankingdoms to the south of Egypt and only a passing familiarity with the pharaohs of the 25th Dynasty of Egypt.

In an introduction to the Notes section of his book, Professor Morkot states that there are still relatively few general accounts of the 25th dynasty and much of the detailed argument and discussion has appeared as articles in academic journals or proceedings of Nubian and Meroitic conferences.He goes on to point out thatmost books published on Nubia have tended to discuss the 25th Dynasty in the context of monuments in the Sudan and treat the Egyptian monuments and to some extent the events and policies as tangential.This book, then, sets out to address this gap in the record.

The book can be divided into the following sections:
* Chapters I to III review the geography and European rediscovery of Nubia first by wealthy travellers, and then by archaeologists from about the middle of the 19th century onwards.These are important chapters because they clearly lay out the most significant hypotheses put forward by the earlier archaeologists who tended to base their assumptions on preconceived notions of the superiority of the Egyptian kingdoms over those of the their southern neighbours, resulting in misconceptions which influenced the study of the kingdoms of Nubia and Meroe up to fairly recent times.
* Chapters IV to VIII deal with Nubia and the Egyptians in Nubia during the period of the Old Kingdom, 1stIntermediate Period, Middle Kingdom, 2nd Intermediate Period and the New Kingdom which ended about 1069BC.These chapters primarily discuss the role of the Egyptian state in Nubia - with the exception of Chapter V which reviews the rise of the Kushite kingdom of Kerma during the 2nd Intermediate period.
* Chapters IXand X deals with the 3rd Intermediate period; Chapter IX with the Libyan Dynasties up to the first appearanceof the Kushite Kings in Thebes around 750BC, at a time when little is known about what was happening in Lower and Upper Nubia, the areas along the Nile above the 1st Cataract at what is now Aswan; and Chapter Xwith the emergence of the Assyrian empire and appearance of their armies in western Asia and the eastern coast of the Mediterranean.
* Chapters XI and XII describe records and monuments of Alara and Kashta, the founding kings of the Kushite Dynasty of Napata.
* Chapters XIII to XXI describe records and monuments of the four Kushite pharaohs who ruled over the whole of Egypt - Piye, Shabaqo, Shebitqo, Taharqo.The Egyptian and Nubian records are now supplemented by those of Assyria, Babylonia, western Asia, and Biblical sources. There arecomplete descriptions of Piye's campaign into the Delta and subseqent re-unification of Egypt, and the incursions of the Assyrians into western Asia and finally into Egypt itself with the campaigns of Esarhaddon and Assurbanipal in674BC, 671BC, 669BC and667BC.
* Chapter XXII, the final chapter, covers the reign of the Tanwetamani, the last recognised Kushite pharaoh of Egypt and the unification of Egypt under Psamtik I, the first kingof the 26th Saite Dynasty.

I found the book to be eminently readable and most interesting, althoughthere often seemed to be frequent repetitions about artefacts and events, which didn't detract from the reading so much as to make me wonder how the book was put together.Professor Morkot is also quite fond of the word "doubtless" - which is a warning flag- since what follows is his interpretation of events without much evidence to back up the statements. Notwithstanding this, I now have a clear idea of the difficulties of developing a coherent picture of the Kushite kingdoms, and I think Professor Morkot has succeeded in beingfairlyeven-handed with the more egregious controversies, including those various hypotheses concerning the geneaology of Kushite royalty and the Kushite succession.The chronological topic in "Centuries of Darkness" plays only a minor role in this book as it is primarily an issue with respect to the period before the accession of kings Alara and Kashta.

Invariably, owing to space limitations if nothing else, I needed some references to hand to help fill in the gaps and my lapses of memory when I was reading this book.These included
* Ian Shaw's "Oxford History of Ancient Egypt" for the periods up to the end of the 3rd Intermediate period
* Several websites which provided more information aboutthe pharaohs ofthe confusing period of the 3rd Intermediate period, and detailedmaps forthose inevitable placeswhich do not appear on any map.
* George Roux's "Ancient Iraq" when it came to the accounts of the emergence of the Assyrian empire into western Asia.
The book has many interesting illustrations, the maps were helpful for understanding the geography of the Nile up to Khartoum, the notes on each chapter are extensive and helpful,and for further reading there is a useful bibliography of works of about 170 notable scholarsand archeologists of the past 100 years.

This book has certainly enhanced my knowledge of this subject, and I recommend it to those persons who want a good overview of the Nubian civilisations up to the end of the 25th Dynasty.It has also renewed my interest in the 3rd Intermediate Period, and Kenneth Kitchen's book on that subject is one of the next books on my reading list. ... Read more

Product Description

Known in the West as a "noble heathen," the great Muslim sultan Saladin led Muslim forces in the reconquest of the Crusader kingdoms and captured Jerusalem in 1187. This concise history traces Saladin's role in the contest between Islam and Christianity during the twelfth century.

Following the Sultan's life from the rise of the Crusader states through his triumph over the Franks to the Third Crusade, Möhring elucidates the sultan's accomplishments in uniting much of the Middle East, his enlightened relationship with European opponents, and the unique legacy of his rule in the Middle East and beyond.

This faithful English-language translation also includes an introduction that places Saladinin his geographic, political, and cultural context.

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Product Description
PEN/West Award Finalist

"        Told with energy, perception and great charm. . . . For anyone who wants

to . . . gain insight into the great cultural and political richness of Iran, past, present and future, this book is a marvelous introduction."

--Fred Halliday, Los Angeles Times

Iran was the first country in the Middle East to develop an oil industry, and oil has been central to its tumultuous twentieth-century history. A finalist for the PEN/West Award, Blood and Oil tells the epic inside story of the battle for Iranian oil. A prominent member of one of Iran's most powerful aristocratic families--so feared by Khomeini that the entire clan was blacklisted--Prince Manucher Farmanfarmaian was raised in a harem at the heart of Iran's imperial court. With wit and provocative detail, he describes the days when he served as the Shah's oil adviser and pioneered the partnership that resulted in OPEC. Beautifully written and epic in its scope, this scintillating memoir provides a fascinating history of modern Iran.

"        Distinguished by its political acumen, historical sense, and vividness of description and anecdote. It is also notable for a wry sense of humour. . . . Amid the euphoria about the development of the oilfields of Central Asia and the Transcaucasus, [its] lesson should be kept in mind."

--Anatol Lieven, Financial Times

"A book of stunning beauty . . . One of the best accounts of the cultural and political life of modern Iran, it is exquisite and intimate, rendered with art-istry and detail."

--Fouad AjamiAmazon.com Review
Anyone who views Iran merely as a nation of Muslim fanaticsshould read this riveting exposition of its tortuous 20th-centuryhistory. Born in 1917 into an aristocratic Iranian family, ManucherFarmanfarmaian served his country in the treacherous world ofpetroleum production and distribution--the source, he believes, of thedisastrous Western meddling that indirectly led to the 1979fundamentalist revolution. Writing with his journalist daughter,Farmanfarmaian details Iran's labyrinthine internal politics andinternational relations with thoroughness enlivened by muscular prose,a sharp eye for character, and lots of good anecdotes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

The Prince of Storytelling
Where, oh post-modern America, are you going to find a true tale of royalty and restoration like this? Nowhere, but from the prince himself, Manucher Farman-Farmaian, who sweeps us up in luxuriant confidentiality, whisking us on a gallop through a forgotten era, Shiites and communists hot on our trail. So what if he was less than streetwise as dissent gathered like storm clouds? I wanted to see the glory that was Iran--not the darkness descending on it. I wanted to meet the inner sanctum of the Pahlavi dynasty and the relics of Farmaian's own kingly clan. Moreso, I wanted to know that this likable bon vivant escaped the senseless butchery of Khomenei's hoodlums and hangers-on. And when he does, I feel as if we've both escaped. Captivatingly written. I'd read whatever this wise man had to share, about the old life or the new.

A Must Read
This book is a must read for anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the psyche of the Iranians and why they feel so bitter towards the way the westhas treated them and duped them out of hundreds of billions of dollars. A great insight into the British shenanigans in Iran.
Manouchehr Framanfarmaian was in a unique position during a unique period of Iran's history and I found the story enlightening, interesting, saddening and I am grateful that he wrote it.

The Shah's Iran; Before the Deluge
Prince Manucher Farmanfarmaian was born in 1917 as a Prince of Persia's reigning Qajar Dynasty. He was raised in a world of Oriental luxury in his father's harem. After obtaining a "proper" education in England, he returned to his homeland, which had changed forever. The Qajar Dynasty had been overthrown and replaced by a Military Officer named Reza Pahlavi, a man determined to "modernise" Iran. As the new Pahlavi Dynasty worked to break the power of the Persian Nobility, they would lead to the creation of a nation of hedonistic aristocrats, not only divorced from the common people but increasingly from reality in general. Writing these memoirs with the aid of his daughter Roxanne, Prince Farmanfarmaian delves deep into the splendor of the Pahlavi Dynasty, while at the same time revealing the very blunders which brought them down. From the profiteering of Reza Shah the Great, to the disastrous socialism of Mossadegh, to the havoc that the last Shah's "land reform" wreaked on the economy, the reader will deeply enjoy being swept away into a nation's tortured history. When the Mullahs finally seize controll and the Prince is forced to follow the Shah into exile, the reader will be on the edge of their seat wondering if he will finally escape. Prince Manucher and Princess Roxanne are to be applauded for taking up the challenge of the glory that was the Pahlavis, without at all ignoring their warts and pimples.

The Prince of Storytelling
Where, oh post-modern America, are you going to find a true tale of royalty and restoration like this? Nowhere, but from the prince himself, Manucher Farman-Farmaian, who sweeps us up in luxuriant confidentiality, whisking us on a gallop through a forgotten era, Shiites and communists hot on our trail.
So he was less than streetwise as dissent gathered like storm clouds. I wanted to see the glory that was Iran--not the darkness descending on it. I wanted to meet the inner sanctum of the Pahlavi dynasty and the relics of Farmaian's own kingly clan. Moreso, I wanted to know that this likable bon vivant escaped the senseless butchery of Khomenei's hoodlums and hangers-on. And when he does, I feel as if we've both escaped. Captivatingly written. I'd read whatever this wise man had to share, about the new life or the old.

An Aristocrats View of Life in the Imperial Iran
The author was a previleged and lucky child as he was born into a rich family in Iran and got all the usual perks that came with it.His memoirs regarding historical events in Iran are extremely subjective and the author has not bothered at all even to show a pretense of objectivity.This is not a book for a reader seeking historical knowledge about Iran but it is valuable for a more knowledgable reader to see the how life in Shah's Iran looked from the vantage view of a high official of that regime.For the knowledgable reader who actually knows what was life in Imperial Iran was like, the author provides a clear example of the total ignorance of ruling elite about the internal situation of Iran.The book also gives a clear indication of the "inferiority complex" that had inflicted the Iranian ruling elite where they had total disdain for Iranians and considered everything Western superior. ... Read more

Product Description
This epic biography, a gripping insider's account, is a long-overdue chronicle of the life and times of Mohammad Reza Shah, who ruled from 1941 to 1979 as the last Iranian monarch. Gholam Reza Afkhami uses his unparalleled access to a large number of individuals--including high-ranking figures in the shah's regime, members of his family, and members of the opposition--to depict the unfolding of the shah's life against the forces and events that shaped the development of modern Iran. The first major biography of the Shah in twenty-five years, this richly detailed account provides a radically new perspective on key events in Iranian history, including the 1979 revolution, U.S.-Iran relations, and Iran's nuclear program. It also sheds new light on what now drives political and cultural currents in a country at the heart of today's most perplexing geopolitical dilemmas. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

The Second Pahlavi
It was a pleasure to read *The Life and Times of the Shah* (Berkeley: UCP, 2009), by Dr. G.R. Afkhami, who taught me Political Science at the National University of Iran in the 1970s. To any impartial critic, this book has a monumental/encyclopedic range, whose 31 page Index and 713 page-total, testify. Narratively styled and fast paced, *The Life and Times of the Shah* inevitably leads into the fall and catastrophic collapse of the politically oppressive and socially progressive Shah's rule. Of an especial interest to both the esoteric and exoteric readers should be the sweeping account of the struggle between the mosque and the state, particularly the Shah's intricate maneuverings for a progressive social agenda, which had begun years before the Islamic Revolution.

AN INSIDER'S ACCOUNT
Some reviewers have tried to question Afkhami's authority by pointing out that he is a regime insider.
What is wrong with that? Could we say that someone who observed and, in a marginal capacity, even participated in the events should not write about them?
If anything, the book is interesting precisley because Mr. Afkhami and his wife were part of the ruling elite and thus in a position to see and know things that we outsiders could not.
Many conemporary Iranians among them Fereydoun Hoveyda, Houchang Nahavandi, Amir Taheri and Ardeshir Zahedi have contributed to a better undertanding of the late Shah. Afkhami's is the latest and, letr us hope, will not be the last.

NO NEED FOR FLATTERY
As someone whose chidhood, and part of adulthood, coincided with the Shah's rule in Iran, I have always been interested ina balanced account of the monarch's 37 years stewardship of the Iranian nation.
This is why Mr. Afkhami's book attracted me.
The author was a university lecturer and, briefly, a deputy minister during the Shah's reign. His wife was a full Cabinet minister, thus securing him good access to the ruling elite. However, the author has decided to write an apologia, rather than a critical biography. And that, in my opinion, does not serve the Shah's historic image.
The Shah does not need either apologia or flattery.
His reign was full of mistakes but also full of achievements. On balance, he was one of Iran's greatest kings. A genuinely critical biography would have depicted his true place in history.
Of the dozens of book on the Shah, two stand out.
The first is British journalist William Shawcross's " The Shah's Last Ride" which deals only with the final tragic period oif the moanrch's life. The other is by Iranian journalist and author Amir Taheri, under the title of " The Unknown Life of the Shah" which is sympathetic to the late monarch but far from apologetic or hagiographic.

Amazing achievements in a short span of time
First of all, I should say to those who have given this book negative reviews out of their blind hatred for a historical figure without reading this book, that this book is not a biography of the late Shah of Iran. It's not an attempt to romanticize the times of the Shah. It is not even trying to paint a rosy picture of the Shah's era. None of it. This book is an excellent work on how the Shah's government functioned and what achievements were made during the period His Majesty was in charge (1941-1979). This masterly work of research and history has immense amount of information about the Shah's era. One wonders how could a government achieves so much in so little time given that the Iranian income out of oil was not as high as it is today. Oil prices only jumped in early 1970s and the speed with which His Majesty's government worked on projects and tried to modernize the country is truly amazing for a country as backward as Iran in 1960s and 70s. The late Shah of Iran was no dictator. If he took charge of things it was simply out of his own frustration with the slow speed of modernization and wasteful spending of his own government in 50s and 60s. And what his system did is truly awesome. Modernization of urban areas, upgrading armed forces, social welfare programs, sending students abroad to study (who later betrayed him) and giving women more prominent roles in the Iranian society... all these were no small feats. You could say his only mistake was to rush these stuff too quick in a short span of time. Again, this book tries to explain these in simple terms by unlocking some of the details the average reader might not know about. This book will serve as a great reference for true students of history. I liked it and recommend it. 5/5

Interesting book written by a monarchist apologist
I read this book and I have to say that I enjoyed reading it.But the book reminded very much of the social science or history books that I have read during the middle school in Iran before the revolution:Very biased.

No question that the Shah was a very important character that shaped Modern Iran and No question that his rule in Iran's history is clearly not defined.(I have been waiting anxiously to read Dr. Milani's book about the Shah as I am sure that will be more 'scientifically and historically' accurate than this.)Dr. Afkhami's command of English is superb and it is a well written book.But I think it is very biased.In the section about nuclear energy, he makes the Shah appear as an expert in the atomic physics who could easily grasb the minute details of atomic physics with once a week tutorial session.The many sources used for this by nature are biased.Doubt that Queen Farrah would ever criticize the Shah.Or Princess Ashraf.Or Mr. Azhari, etc.The book talks about the Shah being a "constitutional monarch" during Dr. Mossdegh's era and although his transformation to a "supreme leader" is evident is not dealt with at all in this book.Dr. Afkhami's chapter about SAVAK is very naive.

I think this book is an answer from the monarchist camp against the drivel, rumors, exagerrated "facts" that we- unfortunately I am including myself here- heard, said and repeated about the Shah durting the revolution and afterwards.It is neither this nor that.Can't wait for Dr. Milani's book.
... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

A fascinating portrait of a monarchy in transition
For the Qajar dynasty of Iran, the mid-nineteenth century was a period of considerable challenge.Though they had succeeded in securing their claim to the throne, their rule was but a pale shadow of the monarchy that had dominated the region during Safavid times.Domestically their regime grappled with unrest and westernizing pressures, while internationally they found themselves a pawn in the geopolitical struggle between the Western empires of Britain and Russia.These challenges dominated the reign of Nasir al-Din Shah, who ruled over Iran for nearly half a century.Though his reign has long been the subject of considerable study, with this book Abbas Amanat has provided the first biography in English of Nasir, offering a detailed study of his life and times.

Yet Amanat's book is not a full accounting of Nasir's life. His focus is on the shah's early years and the first twenty-three years of his lengthy reign.These he sees as critical years in the evolution of the institution of the Iranian monarchy, as it abandoned many of its medieval institutions and developed into a more modern absolutist monarchy.This was not without considerable struggle, nor did it begin with Nasir himself.By the early nineteenth century, the Qajars committed themselves to the notion of primogeniture as a means of determining succession, yet Nasir's path to the throne was plagued with potential challengers from within his family.His successful accession was due in part to the sounds advice of Amir Nizam, who soon afterwards became Nasir's chief minister.Yet his time in power was short, and Nizam's dismissal (and subsequent execution) represented the end of his efforts to institute a range of modernizing reforms.This Amanat sees as a tragically missed opportunity, as the shah rejected any further efforts to resume them as he was unwilling to accept the diminution of his power that they entailed.

Nizam was replaced by Mirza Aqa Khan Nuri, who proved more accommodating to the shah's whims.During this period, which lasted for about a decade, Iran gradually drifted from a slightly pro-British orientation towards a more active opposition to their presence.Here Amanat's extensive use of British diplomatic archival resources is fully evident, allowing him to present a richly nuanced picture of Iran's relations with the British Empire.This growing tension, exacerbated by Nasir's expansionist ambitions, ultimately led to a brief war, one that resulted in a humiliating defeat for the monarchy.Nasir accepted the reality of the situation, and shifted his focus towards solidifying his power.Amanat is good here at describing the clash between Nizam and Nasir's wife Jayram, a clash that resulted in Nizam's dismissal.With his departure, Nasir effectively abandoned the position, establishing instead a more direct rule where the major departments of government answered directly to the shah.Yet his subsequent efforts to implement a more moderate of reform failed, Amanat argues, because of his unwillingness to develop a more systematic form of government, which would have forced him to surrender some of the authority he held most dear.

Extensively researched and incisively written, Amanat's book provides valuable understanding of Nasir and his reign.Though based on a considerable command of published works and documents in the British archives, he never lets the details overwhelm his narrative or overshadow his analysis.Apart from a poor job of editing, the book's main flaw is a lack of comparable detail on the Russian side of the diplomatic divide, which would have helped to provide a more well-rounded picture of events.Yet this does not detract from his overall success in illuminating for readers a fascinating tale of a monarchy in transition.With only a single chapter summarizing the remaining quarter century of Nasir's reign, it is hoped that at some point Amanat gives these years the same rewarding attention he did to the ones covered in this excellent book.

A facinating history of a 19th Century King of Persia
Such insight and dedication to perfection is difficult to find.This is a fascinating book on the life of a Qajar Monarch that ruled Persia for one half of the 19th century.You will learn a great deal about how the era ofindustrial colonialism pushed an otherwise mighty and ancient empire into adefensive position that just keeping the nation in one piece became a majoraccomplishment.The life of the Nassir Al-Din Shah Qajar is so welldepicted in this book that you live in 19th century Iran while reading it. A scholarly work of history by Professor Amanat that is a true contributionto Middle Eastern, Russian, and British History.

History revisited, improved, but not tampered with. Bravo!
My compliments to Professor Amanat on this incredible book on the reign ofNasir al- Din Shah Qajar of Iran.What a refreshing new look on this Qajarruler. AlthoughProfessor Amanat's book concentrates on the first half ofNasir al-Din's monarchy,his work is of great historical and academicvalue to Iranian history. Since the dawn ofthe Pahlavi Dynasty in the1920's, Nasir al-Din has always been presented in a vacuum,by a resumestyle listing of events in his political career. These highlights of Nasiral-Din Shah's monarchy have shaped the popular understanding ofthisruler.Most importantly, the killing of, Mirza Taqi Farahani(AmirKabir), his disliked mother (Malik Jahan, Mahd `Ulya), Nuri, his unpopular premier, the Herat military campaign, the Anglo-Iranian War, the Babisuppression(Baha-i Koshi), foreign intervention in domestic affairs,obsession with Malijak (Aziz-al- sultan), the tobacco concession, and hisassassination in 1896. In this book, we finally getto understand Nasiral-Din by learning about his childhood, his world, and his time.

Whatone learns from reading Professor Amanat's book is that ruling Persiaduring the age ofEurope's Imperial expansion, industrialization, andmodernization, Nasir al-Din wasable to prove himself quite effectively asan astute diplomat.What he lacked in militarymight, he made up for indiplomatic wit, playing the great powers against oneanother (namelyBritain and Russia).What has never been acknowledged about himprior tothis book is that he fared quite well in his attempt to assure Iranianterritorialintegrity and independence (preventing the partitioning ofIran).

Professor Amanat does not in any way put Nasir al-Din at parwith Peter the Great,Nadir Shah, or Napoleon.He simply fills the vacuumsurrounding the psyche, environment, and the character of this King, andpresents the reader with a fresh new look on the Nasir-i era. This bookis objective and focused on preserving history.It has not re-writtenhistory, ithas contributed to it greatly.Having read this book, I stilldo not believe Nasir al-Din was by any measure a great king.In fact hisreligious beliefs,rooted in predestination, repeatedly resigned him toaccept that which was quiteunacceptable.Nasir al-Din's personal hero,Peter the Great of Russia, was never asdocile as he was.Peter reformed,built, and strengthened his country, while Nasir al-DinShah, at best,preserved the status quo.As for his capital modernization attempts, the introduction of the telegraph, the purchasing of the four cannon shipPersepolis, and thefive mile long railway from Tehran to Shah `Abdal-`Azim, were too little for a reign of 48years to win him great praise. Great reform at times of weakness is indeed a historicalpossibility.Peter The Great of Russia set such an example prior to Nasir al-Din, aswell as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk of Turkey, two decades after him. Change isfacilitated through effective leadership.Let us never forget the praisegiven to Ataturk when it was written that "the will of the believer, becomethe creator of miracles."

I recommend Professor Amanat's book highlyto anyone interested in history, biography, or nineteenth centuryimperialism.I give his book five GIANT stars and hope that the professorwrites another book covering the second half of Nasir al-Din's reign. ... Read more

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Featuring nearly one hundred full-color illustrations, a portrait of the immortal--and politically savvy--Queen of the Nile sorts through the history and myth surrounding her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Original." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

great book on cleopatra
this was a great book on cleopatra. there is so much info. pages 113 to 151 are filled with documents. this book is not only filled with lots of good info but it has lots of pictures as well, at least one on every page. this book also gives you an overview on rome, but does not take away from cleopatra. it gives you just enough info on rome so that you will understand all the things around cleopatra. if you are interested in ancient egypt or cleopatra you should get this book. i bet you are asking why the 4 stars, well this book is very small it is a little bigger than 5 by 7. and the words are alittle hard to read. if the book would have been bigger it would have got five stars.

Cleopatra is the greatest
Cleopatra was the greatest.except why did she do suicide.exspecially naked.I wish she lived to see the world until she was the last person in the world.Cleopatra was a good person she cared and she loved every one ofher citizens.Thank you for hearing what I have to say and good day.

Who Cares!
Who really cares what color her skin was?She was an extraordinary woman in extraordinary times. Personally, I believe she was white, but it really doesn't matter either way.

Extrodinary: gives you an overveiw and many details
I have read many books on Cleopatra. Many clutter your mind with information. This book does not give you too many names or details yet still supplies you with enough information to fully understand her life andtroubles as well as the lives of those importent in her live. This is amust be read book that is simple and enjoyable yet information packed. ... Read more

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A comprehensive account, well written and intersting. A must
I found the book to be quite enlightening, and gained a lot of knowledge of Sheikh Mubarak's reign, and his struggle to place the Al Sabah family in firm control. Its well written and insightful. ... Read more