Oman: The True-Life Drama and Intrigue of an Arab State

by John Beasant

Overview

Oman is one of the world’s most secretive countries,ruled with absolute authority by the Sultan. All information is strictly controlled by the State: British Prime Minister Edward Heath once said that the story of the 1970 Palace Coup and the events that followed would ‘not be told in our lifetime’.

Following ten years’ residency in the country a senior member of Sultan Qaboos's Family suggested that John Beasant write a political history of Oman that would to some extent rehabilitate the maligned name of former Sultan Said, who was deposed in the 1970 Coup.

In 'Oman' Beasant catalogues a nature of exploitation woven through all manner of political and commercial interests and casts light on the dark practices so often involved in the sale of arms to Middle Eastern states and illustrates the political use to which the sale of ‘black gold’ - oil - can be put.

Oman is a parable of our times, detailing rivalry and intrigue between people in high places. It is one of the most dramatic tales in Arab history: a chronicle of personal price, rapacious greed and undiluted lust for power.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780571287
Publisher:	Mainstream Publishing Company, Limited
Publication date:	05/27/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	272
File size:	415 KB

About the Author

John Beasant is a former press secretary to two Commonwealth Prime Ministers and a Head of State in the Islamic world. While writing Oman he was expelled from the Sultanate after rejecting a bribe not to proceed with publication. His previous works include The Santo Rebellion: An Imperial Reckoning, Stalin's Silver, Sultan in Arabia: A Private Life and Shell Shock, written with Ian Cummins.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 9

Introduction to the 2013 edition 11

1 The End of the Dream 29

2 An Arabian Nightmare 37

3 A Place in the Sun 46

4 A little Loving 92

5 Went the Day Well? 132

6 The Prodigal Son 165

7 Roll Out the Barrel 175

8 The Wild Colonial Boy 187

9 The Woking Class 202

10 Mr Snooks of Streatham 210

11 The Endgame 219

12 Full Circle? 235

Appendix 1 Manumission Certificate 246

Appendix 2 'The Word of Sultan Said bin Taimour' 247

Appendix 3 Secret British Foreign Office Minute 255

Appendix 4 Statements by the Oman Civil Rights Committee 256

Bibliography 261

Index 263

Editorial Reviews

"Allows a rare and unique insight into an obscure and mysterious land."  —Evening Standard

EBOOK COMMENTARY

"Allows a rare and unique insight into an obscure and mysterious land."  —Evening Standard

From the Publisher