David Pryce-Jones is the author of nineteen books of fiction and nonfiction, including The War That Never Was, Paris in the Third Reich, The Face of Defeat, and The Hungarian Revolution, as well as novels and literary biography. He lives in London.
This is definitely a book to be read, if also one to be thought
about carefully and rather critically.
*Times Literary Supplement*
Powerful . . . must be considered and appreciated even by those who
think they disagree with it.
*Amos Elon*
A brilliant book.
*Hugh Nissenson*
A landmark for understanding the politics of the Middle East . . .
as brilliant as it is depressing.
*Daniel Pipes, director, Middle East Forum; author of Militant
Islam Comes to America*
Refreshing . . . most stimulating . . . as with the best historical
works, The Closed Circle is the outcome, and the resolution, of a
puzzlement.
*Elie Kedourie*
A brilliant insight into the way Arab societies work. A healthy
corrective, a thought-provoking study.
*The New York Times*
Excellent. Having lived in Arabia for six years, I can say that
this text superbly sets out the historical events that led us to
the current situation today and explains many aspects of the
culture that are misunderstood.
*Daniel Kirk, Macon State College*
Following the end of colonial rule in the Middle East, the newly independent Arab nations did not become progressive and free: they are despotic; most persecute religious or ethnic minorities; all oppress women; none has participatory institutions. In a scathing and provocative critique, Pryce-Jones ( Paris in the Third Reich ; Cyril Connolly ) blames these dismal conditions on what he sees as a Muslim reversion to tribal and kinship structures as well as slavish obedience to complex codes of honor and shame that prevent concepts such as open debate, democracy and accountability from taking root. With Islamocentric shortsightedness, Arabs understood Nazism in terms of German revenge for humiliation suffered in World War I. Arab leaders admired both Hitler and Lenin as careerist conspirators who made good. Pryce-Jones sees the same tribal, king-of-the-hill mentality at work today in the Palestine Liberation Organization, a careerist group built around a few audacious personalities who arrogated the right to speak for a whole people. (Mar.)
This is definitely a book to be read, if also one to be thought
about carefully and rather critically. -- David Morgan * Times
Literary Supplement *
Powerful . . . must be considered and appreciated even by those who
think they disagree with it. -- Amos Elon
A brilliant book. -- Hugh Nissenson
A landmark for understanding the politics of the Middle East . . .
as brilliant as it is depressing. -- Daniel Pipes, director, Middle
East Forum; author of Militant Islam Comes to America
Refreshing . . . most stimulating . . . as with the best historical
works, The Closed Circle is the outcome, and the resolution, of a
puzzlement. -- Elie Kedourie
A brilliant insight into the way Arab societies work. A healthy
corrective, a thought-provoking study. -- David K. Shipler * The
New York Times *
Excellent. Having lived in Arabia for six years, I can say that
this text superbly sets out the historical events that led us to
the current situation today and explains many aspects of the
culture that are misunderstood. -- Daniel Kirk, Macon State College
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