A Line in the Sand: Britain, France and the Struggle that Shaped the Middle East by James Barr

By Emelie Jimenez

The short: 

An interesting take on the untold story of how Britain and France’s rivalry shaped the trajectory of the modern-day Middle East.

The long: 

A timeline set between World War I until the creation of the state of Israel, in 1948, A line in the Sand writes a story of the Franco-British rivalry over the remains of the Ottoman Empire. The book depicts the ‘’allied powers’’ engaging in competition and suspicion toward securing control over the region. With little regard for the community of people already living there or the stability and betterment of the region, the two powers battle for their own interests while planting the seed for the current regional problems we see today.

To read or not to read: 

Read! The book takes on a detailed account of half a century of tensions and hypocrisy by European imperialism. James Barr provides a flavorful take with a factual political approach revealing the current problems today’s Middle East faces.