The Great War not only destroyed the lives of over 20 million soldiers and civilians, it ushered in a century of huge political and social upheaval, led directly to the WW-II and altered for ever the mechanisms of governments. This book reveals a fresh pattern in the happenings of that fateful July and August, which leads in unexpected directions.

The Middle East, as we know it today, emerged from decisions made by the Allies during and after the First World War. This extraordinarily ambitious, vividly written account tells how and why those decisions were made and the devastating effect they had.

The Great War not only destroyed the lives of over 20 million soldiers and civilians and wounded 21 million more, it also ushered in a century of huge political and social upheaval, led directly to the Second World War and altered for ever the mechanisms of government from the most distant post of Empire (of whatever.