Eden to Armageddon - Softcover

Ford, Roger

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1605981966 ISBN 13: 9781605981963

Publisher: Pegasus Books, 2011

Synopsis

The definitive and epic account of World War I in the Middle East.

The Great War in the Middle East began with an invasion of the Garden of Eden, and ended with a momentous victory on the site of the biblical Armageddon. For the first time, the complete story of this epic, bloody war is now presented in a single, definitive volume.

In this inspired new work of history, Roger Ford describes the conflict in its entirety: the war in Mesopotamia, which would end with the creation of the countries of Iran and Iraq; the desperate struggle in the Caucasus, where the Turks had long-standing territorial ambitions; the doomed attacks on the Gallipoli Peninsula that would lead to ignominious defeat; and the final act in Palestine, where the Ottoman Empire finally crumbled.

Ford ends with a detailed description of the messy aftermath of the war, and the new conflicts that arose in a reshaped Middle East that would play such a huge part in shaping world affairs for generations to come. 24 pages of black-and-white illustrations

About this title

About the Author

Roger Ford’s work encompasses both narrative military history and that of military, aviation, and naval technology. He is the author of dozens of books in the field of military technology, including The Grim Reaper, a highly acclaimed account of the development of the machine gun, as well as a two-volume history of the Allied special forces in France during World War II, Fire from the Forest and Steel From the Sky. He lives in southern France.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Many of the seemingly chronic problems that plague the Middle East today can be traced back to WWI and the subsequent failures of the postwar settlements. Ford supplies an outstanding and comprehensive account of the military campaigns in the region while integrating them into the broader political interests and maneuvers of the great powers. While some historians viewed the struggle as a sideshow to the trench warfare on the western front, Ford convincingly asserts that the various fronts in the Middle East were an essential factor in the eventual Allied success. He begins with a description of the prewar milieu, as the Ottoman Empire, the “Sick Man of Europe,” continued to decline, giving rise to nationalist agitation and outside intervention. He proceeds to in-depth descriptions of the various campaigns, including the frustrating British effort in Mesopotamia, the disaster at Gallipoli, and the decisive victories in Palestine and Syria. In a fine postscript, Ford illustrates how and why the rivalries and designs of the victorious powers led to a “peace” agreement that virtually guaranteed continued instability and conflict. Enriching the narrative are interesting portraits of some of the key players, including T. E. Lawrence, Ataturk, General Allenby, and Lord Kitchener. --Jay Freeman

About this edition

• Publisher: Pegasus Books
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 1605981966
• ISBN 13: 9781605981963
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 520