Enemy on the Euphrates: The British Occupation of Iraq and the Great Arab Revolt, 1914-1921

In 1920 an Arab revolt came perilously close to inflicting a shattering defeat upon the British Empire’s forces occupying Iraq after the Great War. A huge peasant army besieged British garrisons and bombarded them with captured artillery. British columns and armoured trains were ambushed and destroyed, and gunboats were captured or sunk. Britain’s quest for oil was one of the principal reasons for its continuing occupation of Iraq. However, with around 131,000 Arabs in arms at the height of the conflict, the British were very nearly driven out. Only a massive infusion of Indian troops prevented a humiliating rout. Enemy on the Euphrates is the definitive account of the most serious armed uprising against British rule in the twentieth century. Bringing central players such as Winston Churchill, T. E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell vividly to life, Ian Rutledge’s masterful account is a powerful reminder of how Britain’s imperial objectives sowed the seeds of Iraq’s tragic history. 'Ian Rutledge's brilliant book reveals the folly and delusion of invading Iraq. Read it and shudder.' Nicholas Rankin, author of Churchill's Wizards: The British Genius for Deception 1914-1945 'Material with acute relevance to the crisis now tearing Iraq to pieces' Robert Fisk, Independent Readers will find plenty of food for thought in Ian Rutledge s well-crafted and lively account ... While offering abundant detail on military operations, lines of communications and warfare tactics, Enemy on the Euphrates also makes for a very lively and human-centred read of imperial history. Populated by a remarkable crowd of spies, diplomats, soldiers, clerics and tribal leaders, Rutledge s account displays almost a novelist s taste for intrigue, espionage, gunboat diplomacy, personal hardship and murder.' BBC History Magazine 'An excellently produced book that admirably succeeds in illuminating an important episode in British imperial history' History Today 'The description of the military campaign is masterful ... maintains a high level of suspense' Peter Sluglett, author of Britain in Iraq: Contriving King and Country 'This gripping narrative brings to life the human side of these violent events through vivid descriptions and anecdotes.' Charles Tripp, author of The Power and the People: Paths of Resistance in the Middle East '[A] rare treasure that combines a fascinating account of important historical events with penetrating analysis. Anyone seeking an understanding of the role of oil in shaping modern Middle Eastern history will want to read this book.' Michael Klare, author of The Race for What's Left: The Global Scramble for the World's Last Resources 'Sobering, thoughtful, brilliantly-written ... excellent' The Long, Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War of 1914-1918 'Much of Enemy on the Euphrates reads like a great adventure story, proving how fascinating real history can be ... a rare combination of in-depth information, fairness of analysis and readability, reinforced by excellent maps.' Jordan Times 'A very useful contribution to the understanding of modern Iraq' Middle East Media and Book Reviews Online 'Timely ... rich in detail ... highly readable, lively and dramatic. [Rutledge] presents fascinating accounts of the main British and Iraqi personalities involved in the narrative and the conflicts that sometimes erupted between them.' al-Hayat 'Rutledge does an excellent job of conveying the logistical difficulties confronting any military leadership, let alone one operating thousands of miles from home and in physically challenging and hostile enemy territory ... an easy and enjoyable read ... deserving of a wide readership' Eamonn Gearon, Middle East Journal