Persia in the Great Game: Sir Percy Sykes: Explorer, Consul, Soldier, Spy (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

'A superbly researched and engagingly written biography' -- Anthony Beevor 'Well-researched, hard-nosed, and engaging biography' -- FT 'Antony Wynn has produced a well researched and highly readable life of a character who, in his own day, astonished his contemporaries by his courage and his cheek' -- TLS 20030530 'Antony Wynn is full of marvellous, half-believable tales of bluff and daring' -- Sunday Telegraph 20040118 'A vivid reminder of the extraordinary lives and times of those who once played the Great Game. Sykes was one of the ablest, if most controversial, of these. A valuable addition to Great Game literature' -- Peter Hopkirk 20040118

Product Description

The extraordinary story of Sir Percy Sykes and his unique role in preserving British interests in Persia between the 1890s and World War I—offering a valuable insight into Iran today and its edgy relations with the outside world.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: John Murray Publishers (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0719564158
• ISBN-13: 978-0719564154
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,765,407 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A perfect character study of the Great Gamer Sir Percy Sykes and an indispensable introduction to modern Iran, April 22, 2007

By	Magalini Sabina "sabina" (Rome Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Persia was interested in the Great Game as one of the possible routes to India for the Russians and for this reason became the object of England's important presence in this area. The political situation of Iran today finds it roots in the confilctive relationships between Britain and Russia during the Victorian Age and the early Nineteenth Century.

Sir Percy Sykes was one of the principal englishmen that influenced the permanence of the English in Persia and due to his remarkable caracter is still rememberd there today.

Antony Wynn draws abbundantly from Sir Percy's, his sister Ella's and his wife Evelyn's diaries, official documents and correspondance to bring back to life this rocky and slightly megalomaniac server of his country. From training in the cavalry in India, to the extensive explorations of Kashmir, Ladakh, Turkmenistan and the whole Persian territory, Sykes' career is followed to the founding of the Kerman consulate and after that the permanence in Meshed, where he probably really influenced the insucess of the Russian attempt to annex the North of Persia.
After WWI Russia and Britain became allies and the services of Sykes became very important. Eventhough a diplomat and not a military he founded and commanded the South Persia Rifles that became the first modern Persian army. In contrast to the Central Governement he managed to check the influence of the Germans and check the tribal disorders mustered up by Wassmuss and defeated the raiding tribes of the South ensuring the safety of commerce.
After the war, Lord Curzon showed no sympathy for this knowledgable but difficult to treat military/diplomat, and practically determined his retirement. Sir Percy however had many arrows to his bow and through conferences, articles, books and public apprearances managed to support his vast family.

Antont Wynn writes with detail and is never boring. Historical biographies gain much when contextualization is attempted. In this aspect I found the book a little defective even if the bibliography and the recalls to other sources is satisfying. The photographs add flavour to the reading helping to visualize the caracters.

This book is an indispensable read for the understanding of how the Iranian opinion of the West has formed and is still ongoing. The description of the basis of the economical and political relationships between England and Iran are still part of our current situation.