A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Middle East - Softcover

Hiro, Dilip

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1566569044 ISBN 13: 9781566569040

Publisher: Interlink Books, 2013

Synopsis

Highly readable and up-to-date to reflect the vast changes taking place in the region

In this up-to-date, painstakingly researched dictionary, author Dilip Hiro brings one of the most tumultuous regions of the world to our fingertips. It is easy-to-read, simple to use, authoritative, and comprehensive. If offers a wide range of alphabetically arranged information on topics ranging from current affairs, history and politics to religions, literature and tourist destinations.

Topics covered include: Arab Spring, Arab-Israeli Wars, Biographies, Christianity and Christian Sects, Civil Wars, Country Profiles, Ethnic Groups, Government, Gulf Wars, Historical Places, History, Hostages, International Agreements and Treaties, Islam and Islamic Sects, Judaism and Jewish Sects, Languages, Literary Personalities, Military and Military Leaders, Nonconventional and Nuclear Weapons, Oil and Gas, Peace Process, Politics, Regional Conflicts, Religion, Terrorism, Tourist Destinations, United Nations, and much more.

This is a must-have reference for anyone genuinely interested in understanding more about the history and current events of the Middle East.

About this title

About the Author

Dilip Hiro is a playwright, political writer, journalist, historian and analyst specializing in South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Islamic affairs. He was born to Hindu parents in Larkana, British India, who migrated to independent India after partition in 1947. Hiro received a master's degree from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He is the author of 33 books, including Apocalyptic Realm: Jihadists in South Asia (2012) and Inside Central Asia: A Political and Cultural History of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Iran (2009), which was hailed as one of the best history books of the year by the Financial Times. He contributes regularly to the Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Observer and is a commentator for CNN and the BBC. He lives in London.

Review

Hiro is a well-respected expert on Middle Eastern, Islamic, and central Asian affairs, and this latest work illustrates his deep and broad knowledge of this region. The dictionary focuses on those countries encompassed in the geographic area from Egypt to Iran, including Palestine, Israel, Jordan, and Yemen. Hiro concentrates on people, places, and events that affected the region during the 20th century, but also includes historical information on religions and religious sects, figures, places, and events that continue to shape the Middle East today. The more than 1,200 clearly written entries cover politics, religions, international relations, politicians, groups, natural resources, literature and art, and myriad other topics, with ample cross referencing... Verdict: Hiro displays an admirable even-handedness when covering contentious areas. He gives equal time to both sides of a conflict or disagreement without passing judgment or editorializing, making this an excellent reference source for readers and students interested in solid, fair explanations of the history of, and frequently contentious issues at play in, the Middle East. For this reason, as well as for its very reasonable price tag, A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Middle East is highly recommended... for the both the specialist and the general reader interested in the region.
Library Journal

Well researched and well written. The straightforward transliteration system uses forms generally understandable by both Middle Eastern scholars and general readers. The index is complete and useful ... highly recommended.
Choice

While the general reader will find the Dictionary readable, the specialist will find it mostly reliable. And... both will find it affordable.
Middle East Quarterly

A very useful and highly informative reference work on the region... Hiro deserves much credit for this well researched and highly balanced work which fills a void in the field. [It] is a must for journalists, students, diplomats, businessmen, librarians and anyone else who needs, a quick and reliable reference on the Middle East.
Middle East Insight

An invaluable guide for Journalists, diplomats, businessmen and, not least, politicians... The 1,000 entries ensure comprehensiveness, and their compression into a single manageable volume ensures compactness. And this has been done with a precision that is truly admirable... The author, an indefatigable scholar... has succeeded in achieving both balance and fairness while at the same time avoiding dray as dust scholarship to which works of reference are notably prone. --Middle East International

About this edition

• Publisher: Interlink Books
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1566569044
• ISBN 13: 9781566569040
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 700