In this meticulously-researched synthesis of wartime local politics and imperialism, Stefanie Wichhart offers a groundbreaking new study of Britain's relations with Egypt and Iraq at a pivotal moment in the history of the British Empire and the Middle East. In a lucid and captivating narrative, she focuses on the relations between Britain's embassies in both countries and the other agents of British power, such as the military and propaganda and publicity specialists, and the local politicians with whom and often against whom they worked. While the former sought to entrench Britain's waning power during a global conflict and secure its position in the post-war world, the latter struggled to pursue national objectives from within dysfunctional political systems that spoke of their countries positions as neither colonies nor yet fully independent nation-states. * Ashley Jackson, Professor of Imperial and Military History, King's College London, UK *
The military campaigns of the Second World War in the Mediterranean are well known. Much less so are the wrangling between the British men on the spot, the diplomats and soldiers, with nationalist Egyptian and Iraqi leaders. The war with its ebbs and flows provided a stern test of Britain's 'empire by treaty' strategy which had been cemented by prewar treaties with Egypt and Iraq. Stefanie Wichhart fills a gap, providing a fascinating account of the trials and tribulations of British decision-makers, leading inexorably to imperial decline despite their best efforts. Blending the different facets together is a remarkable achievement. Many characters loom large including Sir Miles Lampson, King Farouk, Nahas Pasha, Nuri al-Said and Sir Kinahan Cornwallis. * Steven Morewood, Senior Lecturer in International History, University of Birmingham, UK *
