A WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD NOTABLE BOOKAfter the American Revolution; the British Empire appeared to be doomed. Yet it grew to become the greatest; most diverse empire the world had seen. Then; within a generation; the mighty structure collapsed; a rapid demise that left an array of dependencies and a contested legacy: at best a sporting spirit; a legal code and a near-universal language; at worst; failed states and internecine strife. The Decline and Fall of the British Empire covers a vast canvas; which Brendon fills with vivid particulars; from brief lives to telling anecdotes to comic episodes to symbolic moments.
#160263 in Books Yaroslav Trofimov 2008-09-09 2008-09-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.10 x .70 x 5.20l; .68 #File Name: 0307277739336 pagesThe Siege of Mecca The 1979 Uprising at Islam s Holiest Shrine
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. This should be required reading for everyone who is trying ...By Shop ManThis should be required reading for everyone who is trying to understand the catastrophic situation in the Middle East. The author tells the story of Wahhabi Moslem extremists; from many countries; attacking; and seizing; Mecca in 1979. This attack and the Saudi Arabian response was purely a fight among Moslems but it led to Moslem attacks on US embassies across the middle east due to Iranian propaganda blaming the US for the attack. In telling this story the author describes the history of the hundreds of years of radical Moslem religious turmoil leading up to this pivotal event. He then explores its aftermath and illustrates the continuing violence and terrorism associated with the Wahhabi extremism in many countries across the Middle East including the assassination of the Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Today's events from ISIS to Iraq to Yemen to Syria to Iran to Pakistan to Afghanistan are much easier to understand given this perspective.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. TerrifyingBy RKThis was a fascinating book about a subject that I had never heard about before. I happened to hear about it on a podcast and I was intrigued enough to give it try.If you are a fan of world history; then you will love how this book brings all of the political struggles of the 70's and 80's together. Excellent book!4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Minimal Western coverage does not do justice to the importance of this eventBy William CapodannoThe author has done an exceptional job of researching and sourcing material for this amazing look at a pivotal event in modern Islam and Middle Eastern history. While I was vaguely familiar with the attempted siege of the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 1979; the details behind the takeover by Sunni's intent on overthrowing the Saudi Royal family and the ultimately "successful" subduing of the followers of Juhayman makes for a fascinating read and raises questions about the lasting impact of this event. Occuring shortly after the Iranian Revolution; Trofimov provides a revealing look into never before covered facts about how close the Saudi regime came to being overthrown; the ineptitude of the Saudi government departments in putting down the situation (National Guard; Dept. of Interior) and the role of the French special forces in assisting the royal family. Especially captivating were Trofimov's chapters on the harrowing situations for American diplomats and their staffs in Pakistan and Libya as Islamic students attempted to destroy the US Embassy's and quite possibly replicate the situation that existed in Tehran. For anyone intersted in the Islam and the Middle East; this book is an absolute must.
