Author:Avi Shlaim
Avi Shlaim's Lion of Jordan: The Life of King Hussein in War and Peace is the first major account one of the most important figures in the turbulent history of the Middle East.
Peace-broker, statesman, charismatic ruler and master of realpolitik, Hussein of Jordan was one of the dominant figures in Middle Eastern politics, its most continuous presence, and one of the most consistent proponents of peace with Israel.
For over forty years he was at the eye of the storm in the region, constantly negotiating between the Arab world and the Israelis, guiding his country through conflict, surviving assassination attempts and trying to fulfill his lifelong quest for peace and the survival of his dynasty. This is the first major account of Hussein's remarkable dialogue across the battle lines, and of his covert meetings with Israeli leaders. Drawing on extensive archival sources and on unprecedented interviews with Hussein, his family, and confidants, it reveals a titanic leader and a courageous man.
'A thrilling, masterful biography'
Simon Sebag-Montefiore, Sunday Telegraph Books of the Year
'The most comprehensive biography of the "plucky little king"'
Anton La Guardia, Literary Review
'A nuanced portrait of Jordan's late King Hussein ... salutes Hussein's extraordinary physical and moral courage'
Daily Telegraph
Avi Shlaim was born in Baghdad in 1945; grew up in Israel; and received his university education at Cambridge and the LSE. His books include Collusion Across the Jordan: King Abdullah, The Zionist Movement, and the Partition of Palestine (Winner of the Political Studies Association's WJM Mackenzie Prize, 1988), War and Peace in the Middle East: A Concise History and The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World.
This is a magnificent achievement
—— Daily TelegraphErudite and eloquent
—— EconomistKurlansky writes history with his heart firmly on his sleeve, unashamedly hopeful that people are becoming more tired of war, quicker to condemn it
—— Adam Forrest , Sunday HeraldShort and punchy and has a good heart... fascinating, vibrant and thought-provoking
—— Scotland on SundayThis book is crammed with historical fact... thought provoking
—— Financial TimesDelightful
—— Irish TimesSuccinct yet wide-ranging...Kurlansky is adamant that his book is about hope, that over and over again non-violence has had its own small successes, from Gandhi to Martin Luther King
—— Claire Allfree , MetroThe ideal Christmas present for world leaders and jihad warriors everywhere
—— Big IssueKurlansky tells an intriguing story - with some nuggets of fascinating trivia
—— Bill McSweeney , Irish TimesAn entertaining, interesting and sometimes inspiring gallop through parts of the history of non-violent conflict
—— Buce Kent , History TodayHaslam is an intriguing man...[and] can write wonderfully well
—— The Spectator, Susan HillA baroque soufflé of names, faces, bitchy asides and put-downs, sprinkled with funny anecdotes.
—— Camilla Long , Sunday TimesThough full of as much gossip as you might expect from the inveterate socialite, this memoir is also interestingly clever
—— Daily TelegraphThe interior designer, journalist and socialite Nicky Haslam has met almost everyone who's anyone
—— Brandon Robshaw , Independent on SundayIt is...boisterously good company and proof that if Haslam knows one thing, it's that you can only get away with a life like his if you are never, ever boring.
—— Claire Allfree , Metroa terrifically entertaining read
—— Carla McKay , Daily Mailextremely diverting, essentially kind-hearted and well written
—— William Leith , Evening Standard