Empire of Sand: How Britain Made the Middle East
At the end of the First World War, Britain, and to a much lesser extent France, created the modern Middle East. The possessions of the former Ottoman Empire were carved up with scant regard for the wishes of those who lived there. From the outset, the project was destined to fail.



Conflicting and ambiguous promises had been made to the Arabs during the war but were not honored. Brief hopes for Arab unity were dashed, and a harsh belief in western perfidy persists to the present day. Britain was quick to see the riches promised by the black pools of oil that lay on the ground around Baghdad. When France, too, grasped their importance, bitter differences opened up and the area became the focus of a return to traditional enmity. The wartime allies came close to blows and then drifted apart, leaving a vacuum of which Hitler took advantage.



Working from both primary and secondary sources, Walter Reid explores Britain's role in the creation of the modern Middle East and the rise of Zionism from the early years of the twentieth century to 1948, when Britain handed over Palestine to United Nations' control. From the decisions that Britain made has flowed much of the instability of the region and of the worldwide tensions that threaten the twenty-first century; this thought-provoking book considers how much Britain was to blame.
"1117207887"
Empire of Sand: How Britain Made the Middle East
At the end of the First World War, Britain, and to a much lesser extent France, created the modern Middle East. The possessions of the former Ottoman Empire were carved up with scant regard for the wishes of those who lived there. From the outset, the project was destined to fail.



Conflicting and ambiguous promises had been made to the Arabs during the war but were not honored. Brief hopes for Arab unity were dashed, and a harsh belief in western perfidy persists to the present day. Britain was quick to see the riches promised by the black pools of oil that lay on the ground around Baghdad. When France, too, grasped their importance, bitter differences opened up and the area became the focus of a return to traditional enmity. The wartime allies came close to blows and then drifted apart, leaving a vacuum of which Hitler took advantage.



Working from both primary and secondary sources, Walter Reid explores Britain's role in the creation of the modern Middle East and the rise of Zionism from the early years of the twentieth century to 1948, when Britain handed over Palestine to United Nations' control. From the decisions that Britain made has flowed much of the instability of the region and of the worldwide tensions that threaten the twenty-first century; this thought-provoking book considers how much Britain was to blame.
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Empire of Sand: How Britain Made the Middle East

Empire of Sand: How Britain Made the Middle East

by Walter Reid

Narrated by Derek Perkins

Unabridged — 14 hours, 59 minutes

Empire of Sand: How Britain Made the Middle East

Empire of Sand: How Britain Made the Middle East

by Walter Reid

Narrated by Derek Perkins

Unabridged — 14 hours, 59 minutes

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Overview

At the end of the First World War, Britain, and to a much lesser extent France, created the modern Middle East. The possessions of the former Ottoman Empire were carved up with scant regard for the wishes of those who lived there. From the outset, the project was destined to fail.



Conflicting and ambiguous promises had been made to the Arabs during the war but were not honored. Brief hopes for Arab unity were dashed, and a harsh belief in western perfidy persists to the present day. Britain was quick to see the riches promised by the black pools of oil that lay on the ground around Baghdad. When France, too, grasped their importance, bitter differences opened up and the area became the focus of a return to traditional enmity. The wartime allies came close to blows and then drifted apart, leaving a vacuum of which Hitler took advantage.



Working from both primary and secondary sources, Walter Reid explores Britain's role in the creation of the modern Middle East and the rise of Zionism from the early years of the twentieth century to 1948, when Britain handed over Palestine to United Nations' control. From the decisions that Britain made has flowed much of the instability of the region and of the worldwide tensions that threaten the twenty-first century; this thought-provoking book considers how much Britain was to blame.

Editorial Reviews

SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

At 15 hours, this fine audiobook history of the West’s role in shaping Middle Eastern politics—and more importantly, its geography—takes a fresh look at some familiar names, including T.E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, and Woodrow Wilson. Derek Perkins is, as always, a flawless narrator, and few could equal the range of skills required here. Many threads come together in this illuminating and impressively researched narrative, one that even the most informed listeners may learn much from. For those with only a general knowledge of the Middle East, here is a frank appraisal that bares the machinations, connivances, and conflicting interests that drew the map of today’s Arab and Jewish nations, and lit the politics that still burn there decades later. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

AudioFile

Derek Perkins is, as always, a flawless narrator, and few could equal the range of skills required here.

Toy Solder & Model Figure

Reid engages in a fascinating examination of whether decisions that shaped today’s Middle East were made in good faith, even if some of them turned out to be badly flawed.

The Herald

[An] impeccably researched book

Scotsman - Michael Bye

[Reid] is judicious; his very capable prose just begs to be read

European Review of History

Extremely well written and enjoyable to read

Journal of Israeli Foreign Affairs

Structured in an accessible and intelligent way [...] Empire of Sand is a useful, meticulously written introduction to a complex history, of direct relevance to our own times [...] well researched, well planned, and overall a useful addition to the literature on this subject

From the Publisher

[Reid] is judicious; his very capable prose just begs to be read.” —Michael Nye, Scotsman

Toy Soldier and Model Figure Magazine

Reid engages in a fascinating examination of whether decisions that shaped today’s Middle East were made in good faith, even if some of them turned out to be badly flawed.

SEPTEMBER 2022 - AudioFile

At 15 hours, this fine audiobook history of the West’s role in shaping Middle Eastern politics—and more importantly, its geography—takes a fresh look at some familiar names, including T.E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill, and Woodrow Wilson. Derek Perkins is, as always, a flawless narrator, and few could equal the range of skills required here. Many threads come together in this illuminating and impressively researched narrative, one that even the most informed listeners may learn much from. For those with only a general knowledge of the Middle East, here is a frank appraisal that bares the machinations, connivances, and conflicting interests that drew the map of today’s Arab and Jewish nations, and lit the politics that still burn there decades later. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID: 2940178763032
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication date: 08/16/2022
Edition description: Unabridged
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