Enemy on the Euphrates: The Battle for Iraq, 1914-1921

(Paperback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

In 1920 an Arab revolt came perilously close to inflicting a shattering defeat upon the British Empire's forces occupying Iraq after the Great War. A huge peasant army besieged British garrisons and bombarded them with captured artillery. British columns and armoured trains were ambushed and destroyed, and gunboats were captured or sunk. Britain's quest for oil was one of the principal reasons for its continuing occupation of Iraq. However, with around 131,000 Arabs in arms at the height of the conflict, the British were very nearly driven out. Only a massive infusion of Indian troops prevented a humiliating rout. Enemy on the Euphrates is the definitive account of the most serious armed uprising against British rule in the twentieth century. Bringing central players such as Winston Churchill, T. E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell vividly to life, Ian Rutledge's masterful account is a powerful reminder of how Britain's imperial objectives sowed the seeds of Iraq's tragic history.

Reviews

'This brilliant book reveals the folly and delusion of invading Iraq. Read it and shudder' Nicholas Rankin, author of Churchill's Wizards: The British Genius for Deception 'The description of the military campaign is masterful - maintains a high level of suspense' Peter Sluglett, author of Britain in Iraq: Contriving King and Country 'Material with acute relevance to the crisis now tearing Iraq to pieces.' Robert Fisk, Independent 'Readers will find plenty of food for thought in Ian Rutledge's well-crafted and lively account ... The scenarios of occupation, foreign rule, jihad, resistance and counter-insurgency it depicts are unmistakably familiar, a reminder of the political instability and bloodshed that have tarnished Iraq since the 2003 US invasion - While offering abundant detail on military operations, lines of communications and warfare tactics, 'Enemy on the Euphrates' also makes for a very lively and human-centred read of imperial history ... Rutledge's account displays a novelist's taste for intrigue, espionage, gunboat diplomacy, personal hardship and murder.' BBC History Magazine 'An excellently produced book that admirably succeeds in illuminating an important episode in British imperial history' History Today 'Rutledge does an excellent job of conveying the logistical difficulties confronting any military leadership ... deserving of a wide readership' Middle East Journal 'As the legions of ISIS set up their proto-Caliphate in Iraq, the word 'prescience' comes forcibly to mind.' The Oldie 'A timely reminder of how we got here - an important book' The National 'Thought provoking - I like to think this book might find a place on the shelves of the libraries of the RUSI, Sandhurst or West Point' War History Online 'A readable and very useful contribution to the understanding of modern Iraq' Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online 'Eye-opening, fascinating and brilliantly-written - Excellent' The Long, Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918, 'Compelling, rich with such colourful personalities as Winston Churchill, Gertrude Bell and T. E. Lawrence' Saudi Aramco World 'Much of Enemy on the Euphrates reads like a great adventure story, proving how fascinating real history can be ... a rare combination of in-depth information, fairness of analysis and readability, reinforced by excellent maps.' Jordan Times 'Timely and rich in detail - highly readable, lively and dramatic. [Rutledge] presents fascinating accounts of the main British and Iraqi personalities involved in the narrative and the conflicts that sometimes erupted between them' al-Hayat 'Anyone seeking an understanding of the role of oil in shaping modern Middle Eastern history will want to read this book' Michael Klare, author of The Race for What's Left: The Global Scramble for the World's Last Resources

Author Bio

Ian Rutledge is an economist and historian. A graduate of the University of Cambridge where he received his PhD in Economic History, Rutledge is Research Director and co-founder of the Sheffield Energy Resources Information Services. He has taught at the Universities of London and Sheffield and for the Workers' Educational Association. His other publications include 'Addicted to Oil: America's Relentless Drive for Energy Security'.