A Peace to End All Peace: The Fall of the Ottoman Empire and The Creation of the Modern Middle East

Review by Will Dossett 

The Short: A masterful history of the British and French machinations that brought down the Ottoman Empire and set the stage for a century of conflict in the Middle East

The Long: World War I in the Middle East often gets glossed over in Western histories, besides perhaps a brief sketch of Lawrence of Arabia. David Fromkin’s comprehensive narrative fixes that, by bringing back to life the array of colorful diplomats, generals, religious leaders, and rank amateurs who ushered the region out of the Ottoman Empire and into the 20th century. Fromkin traces the arc of the war from its earliest origins into the mandate era, illuminating the pivotal moments, decisions, and missed opportunities that ended “the war to end all wars,” with a treaty whose arbitrary borders and colonial priorities created “a peace to end all peace.” 

To Read or not to Read: Read! As my congressman put it, “if you want to understand the Middle East, you’ve got to read this book.” It may be a challenge for those who are not already history buffs, but the book is beautifully written and reveals the fascinating characters and dramatic plot twists behind your more typical, dry, diplomatic history.