A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the struggle that shaped the Middle East

James Barr's book is a tale the activities of the British and French in the Middle East, from the Picot-Sykes agreement in 1915 to the British withdrawal from Palestine in 1949. But it is not merely a narrative, it contains a measure of analysis as well. Like many people, I knew a few of the highlights, if that's what they can be called, but this book enabled me to put the disparate pieces together.Although the activities of both the Jewish and Arab peoples are covered, the book is really about the imperial rivalry between Britain and France. The two World Wars of the 20th century have perhaps hidden to many the fact that rivalry and war between the two goes back at least 700 years, and that much of second half of 19th Century was occupied by skirmishes between the empires of the two.Given this situation, it was hardly surprising that the question of who should dominate the Middle East after the demise of the Ottoman Empire had potential for disrupting the Anglo-French alliance in the middle of the First World War. Even after an agreement between the two imperialist nations had been agreed - a line on the map from the 'e' in Acre, to the 'k' in Kirkup - each sought to undermine the other's position, and each proceeded to treat the people living in the the area they controlled in a way guaranteed to eventually cause rebellion.Reading this book is a bit like watching a slow motion train wreck. We all know what the outcome was, everyone has their own idea of what should have been done, but Britain and France continued with the same policies that had already dug both of them into a deep hole. At times one almost fears to turn the page to see what the next blunder is.I recommend this book to any one who wants to understand the history of the problems that currently beset the Middle East. To my mind it's pretty even handed in its approach to the main protagonists. Some of the uttering and beliefs of the leading characters will sound pretty appalling to the modern ear, but you have to remember that imperialism was a respectable and dominant ideology for both sides during the two wars and in the inter-war period.Recommended.

The book links up many episodes and personalities that are well known but not necessarily described and connected together such as TE Lawrence, Sykes-Picot, French and British involvement in the ME etc.One inaccuracy/oversight though- the author declares “ Not since 1776 had the British given up any part of their empire, and never voluntarily “. This surprisingly ignores the Irish war of of independence and the formation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

You won’t understand the situation in the Middle East unless you understand the politics going on behind the facade. Read this book and you will. Simples.I found the book extremely readable, intense and gripping.

This book covers the modern history of the Middle East and the creation of the Arab states from the remnants of the Ottoman Empire during the period 1915 to 1949. The particular thrust of this book that makes it quite different from the numerous volumes on this subject is that it specifically deals with the rivalry between Britain and France for supremacy in the area, and contains a great deal of new information on the extraordinary breadth of clandestine and thoroughly devious behaviour adopted by both Great Powers with respect to each other.The scene is set with the well known Sykes-Picot Agreement of 3 January 1916 that established the arbitrary `line in the sand' of the title and which divided the soon to be created new states of Syria and Iraq (and later Trans-Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon.)The author, James Barr, then charts the history of the defeat of Turkey and occupation of the Middle East, the Druze Revolt of 1925 and the struggle that France and Britain had in maintaining peace in their respective territories whilst denying the indigenous population self determination in defiance of the American President Woodrow Wilson. The author advances through the endless machinations between France and Britain to the Second World War, the Mandates, the growth of the nascent Jewish state and eventual evacuation of the Colonial Powers. However, this well worn path is highly dramatised by the revelation of the activities of British and French agents and the totally underhand activities of the respective governments, which I would suggest, has not before been handled in such revealing detail. The author introduces to us many interesting buccaneering characters that seem to be attracted to the area as well as many of the local leaders. I found the role of General Charles de Gaulle quite breathtaking in the depth of his arrogance, ingratitude and rudeness towards anything English.For the most part this book is entirely objective and very well researched, however, I would take issue with the somewhat sanitised description of how the Zionists obtained land from the local Arabs. This book is not just a re-hash of a familiar story, it does contain much new material and a new perspective and should be a good choice for all those with an interest in this area of history. It is astounding that we continue to endlessly meddle in the Middle East to no advantage.

Although written froma more British point of view and a more antifrench view point, no book has been able to explain the creation of the modern middle east as much as this one. This is a MUST READ and all other books can help supplement this one for anyone interested in the modern Middle east creation.

Ricostruzione molto interessante delle vicende che hanno interessato il Medio Oriente a partire dal XIX secolo. Utile per una migliore comprensione della situazione geopolitica attuale.

Un livre intelligent et incroyablement riche qui nous guide à travers la première moitié du 20e siècle dans cette zone. Jeu d’influence entre puissances de la vieille Europe en temps de guerre comme en temps de paix. Le livre donne une approche réfléchie et profonde de la naissance de cette zone.

A well-researched and crafted narrative of British and French intrigues in the Levant. Would have appreciated a more nuanced focus on the origins of Arab nationalism. Nevertheless, a definitive text to understand the birth of today's Syria, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia in a European context.

Beaucoup de details, tres bien fait