The untold story of how British-French rivalry drew the battle-lines of the modern Middle East

The untold story of how British-French rivalry drew the battle lines of the modern Middle East. Through a stellar cast of politicians, diplomats, spies and soldiers, including T. E. Lawrence, Winston Churchill and Charles de Gaulle, this vividly tells the story of the short but crucial era when Britain and France ruled the Middle East. Using newly declassified papers from the British and French archives, James Barr brings this overlooked clandestine struggle back to life, and reveals, for the first time, the stunning way in which the French finally got their revenge.

'History at its meticulously researched and addictive best'