When God Made Hell: The British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921

(Paperback, Main)

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Since 2003, Iraq has rarely left the headlines. But less discussed is the fact that Iraq as we know it was created by the British, in one of the most dramatic interventions in recent history. A cautious strategic invasion by British forces led - within seven years - to imperial expansion on a dizzying scale, with fateful consequences for the Middle East and the world. Britain's path from one of its worst military disasters to extraordinary success with largely unintended consequences, through overconfidence, incompetence and dangerously vague policy. With monumental research and exceptionally vivid accounts of on-the-ground warfare, this a truly gripping account of the Mesopotamia campaign, and its place in the wider political and international context. For anyone seeking to understand the roots of British involvement in Iraq, it is essential reading.

Author Bio

Charles Townshend is Professor of International History at Keele University, specialising in the study of modern political violence and insurgency. He is the editor of the Oxford History of Modern War and the author of Easter 1916: the Irish Rebellion, among others. He is married with two sons.