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An extremely well researched and detailed look at the period before/during/after WWI that led to many of the current geopolitical boundaries in the Middle East that remain fault lines for conflict and strife today. The author focuses on the diplomatic and military actions of the Western Powers and Russia as they fought for not just advantage during the war but also for national interests and personal affiliations. I enjoyed it, but got bogged down in the Allied politics and really struggled to finish it by the end. The author details these foreign powers’ interventions in the Middle East in all of their terrible glory with a critical eye. But despite acknowledging those sins, one of the author’s final takeaways is a clear preference that regardless of how or why the modern day geopolitical lines are drawn the way they are, these countries are better served by “not looking back” and instead working through these realities to find better mechanisms for peace and stability. It’s a hard book to recommend to someone who isn’t already familiar with WWI and the modern day Middle East, and I will likely continue to improve my understanding of the era and issues before I reread it.
The Ottoman Empire's involvement in WWI, let alone their entire existence, is something that is never covered in the American school system. It was a fascinating read to learn about an entirely different part of WWI and a massive part of history that is rarely referenced elsewhere. It is written in a comprehensible and enjoyable manner that makes for a much easier read than anticipated. Fromkin does a great job of cover all aspects of the region and era. Considering this book was published in 1989, It is still a great resource for gaining a better understanding of our modern world and contemporary Middle Eastern issues.