Pappé (A History of Modern Palestine) chronicles over two centuries of Palestinian history through the lens of a prominent clan who figured in all aspects of Palestinian life, from the early 1700s through the declaration of the state of Israel. Pappé's depiction of major historical events "through the eyes of the family and not just from an 'objective' historical perspective" creates an absorbing narrative that retains its integrity as an accurate scholarly account: he wisely resists imagining dialogue and other fiction techniques, instead presenting a straightforward account based on meticulous research. The ubiquitous presence of the Husaynis in Palestinian politics and communities is impressive, from Abd al-Latif, who "controlled every aspect of life in Jerusalem" in the mid-18th century; to Tahir al-Husayni II, a senior religious official who recognized Jewish immigration as a "threat" as early as 1897, when few were immigrating; to Abd al-Qadir, revered for his heroism during the 1948 massacres that cost him his life. With his fourth book on the region and his third about Palestine, Pappé has created a unique and enlightening chronicle of an influential family and the people whose lives they profoundly affected.
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“A unique and enlightening chronicle of an influential family and the people whose lives they profoundly affected. “
(
Publishers Weekly 2011-02-07)
“A fine book that is informed by the best scholarship and written with directness and celerity.”
(Weldon C. Matthews
Journal Of World History 2012-10-10)
“An interesting narrative on the rise of the Husayni family to local leadership in Jerusalem.”
(Meir Litvak, Tel Aviv University
Bustan: The Middle East Book Review 2012-11-14)
“Does not disappoint. . . . A balanced analysis based on solid research.”
(Janice J. Terry, Eastern Michigan University
The Historian 2012-10-01)
From the Inside Flap
"Ilan Pappé is Israel's bravest, most principled, most incisive historian." John Pilger, author of Freedom Next Time: Resisting the Empire
About the Author
Ilan Pappé holds the Chair in History at the University of Exeter and is Co-Director of the Exeter Centre for Ethno-Political Studies. He is well known for his revisionist interpretation of Israel’s history and is the author of a number of influential books on the Middle East including A History of Modern Palestine, The Modern Middle East and The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.