Three Kings in Baghdad: The Tragedy of Iraq's Monarchy [Paperback]

Gerald de Gaury (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 184511535X | ISBN-13: 978-1845115357 | Publication Date: June 10, 2008

This is the tragic story of the short-lived Iraqi monarchy. The first king of Iraq, Faisal I, was installed by the British in 1921. Faisal, who had led the Arab Revolt and fought alongside T.E. Lawrence, was a major player in the politics of the Middle East. He was also, most importantly, pro-British and thus 'suitable' to lead an independent Iraq. His son and successor, Ghazi, a strong pan-Arab nationalist, felt very differently. He supported the first military coup in the Arab world and was said to hold German sympathies. Ghazi's suspicious death in a car accident left his son, also named Faisal, King at the age of four. So Iraq was ruled by his uncle, Abdulillah, as regent until the boy came of age. Iraq's artificially-imposed monarchy came to an abrupt and bloody end in July 1958 when Faisal II and Abdulillah, along with the Prime Minister, Nuri al Said, and many members of Faisal's family, were gunned down and the country was declared a republic. Three Kings in Baghdad is a unique and timely account of this portentous moment in Iraq's history.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"De Gaury writes as an eye witness as well as a historian, desiring to evoke the characters of the three kings as much as the political record. Three Kings in Baghdad is a memorial, not only to the Iraqi Royal Family but also to the British movement in the Middle East. Even before the catastrophe of the US-led invasion of 2003, many Iraqis considered the years of the monarchy as a golden age." Philip Mansel, in his Preface to 'Three Kings in Baghdad'
"Three Kings in Baghdad challenges the generally negative view of Iraq's kings and their links with Britain. Though not a memoir, it is permeated by de Gaury's memories and observations. The result is a superbly sharp picture. He casts a brilliant light on a forgotten corner of Britain's vast realm of imperial influence in the twentieth century." Alan de Lacy Rush, in his Introduction to 'Three Kings in Baghdad'

"Gerald de Gaury knows and loves his desert world and has written this honest record of a journey with the sense of its fugitive quality in time. The trifles of a desert court, the ritual of nomad life, the details of an embassy will soon be forgotten. Gerald de Gaury sees them with an experienced and loving eye, and, like a collector of butterflies, nets the remote moments for the pleasure of those who will never see them flickering in their own bright air." Freya Stark, in her Foreword to 'Arabia Phoenix'

About the Author

Gerald de Gaury, 1897-1984, was one of the great British travellers in Arabia and an expert on the Middle East. He joined the British army at the outbreak of World War I and served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front for which he was awarded the Military Cross. After the war he became British Political Agent in Kuwait and was later special emissary to King Ibn Saud and special Chargé d'Affaires with the Regent of Iraq. In addition to being a soldier and a diplomat, he wrote a biography on Alexander Kinglake, a modern history of Israel and several travel books on the Middle East - now classics - including Arabia Phoenix, Arabian Journey and Rulers of Mecca.

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 184511535X
• ISBN-13: 978-1845115357
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,468,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Must Read Book for Background History of Iraq, November 21, 2011

By 

Manny the Reviewer "Manny" (Honolulu) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Three Kings in Baghdad: The Tragedy of Iraq's Monarchy (Paperback)

"A cautionary tale and a very interesting read regarding the history of the three generation Iraqi monarchy installed by the British using the Hashimite princes of Mecca in the early 1920s and lasting until the brutal Bathist revolution in 1958 that later brought Sadam Hussein into power. At times it's like a violent action suspence thriller only at a slower pace. The author, Gerald de Gaury, is an unabashed monarchist and does not hide his friendship and support of the Hashimite kings or most of their family but it is easy at times to read between the lines and Gaury also lists the falacies and foibles that may have doomed the monarchy founded in the twighlight of British Colonialism. "

5.0 out of 5 stars Great image of the Iraqi monarchy, November 17, 2010

By 

OnTheSquare (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Three Kings in Baghdad: The Tragedy of Iraq's Monarchy (Paperback)

This book is a must be read by all iraqis, and others who are interested in Iraq's modern history. It gives an image of the butchered monarchy, including all its personalities, by a British witness and close to its figures. The author is a respectable diplomat and intelligence officer who has the qualified instinct when assessing people and circumstances. I came accross many articles in regard to Iraqi monarchy, most by Iraqi and arab writers, but most are driven by emotional or political whims, and may give false insight. I believe that history given by contemporay outsiders, especially with credible weight as Mr De Gaurys, would be more unbiased or sincere.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, July 1, 2008

By 

Yeranui Kaloyan "yerakal" (Tijuana,Mexico) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Three Kings in Baghdad: The Tragedy of Iraq's Monarchy (Paperback)

This is must if you want to know about the history of Iraq.
Not many people know that Iraq was once a monarchy.