Understand the Middle East (since 1945) Teach Yourself

This much needed new edition provides a complete and essential guide to this fast developing, ever changing and often tense region. This book, fully updated for 2024, examines the origins and development of the events which have dominated the headlines for the last seven decades. Covering everything from religion and politics in the aftermath of the Second World War to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, terrorism, war in Iraq and Syria and the extraordinary economic growth of the Gulf states, it will change the way you think about the region and provide balance and clarity.

A prize-winning author of fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, Stewart Ross is one of Britain's most popular and versatile writers.  
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He was born in Buckinghamshire and educated at Newton Blossomville, Oxford, Berkhamsted, Exeter, Bristol, and Orlando, Florida. He taught at a variety of institutions in Sri Lanka, the Middle East, the US and the UK before becoming a full-time writer in 1989.In addition to fiction and nonfiction, his 330+ published titles include plays, librettos, and the text of a musical work for voice and orchestra.

Stewart lectures in France and the UK, gives talks, runs workshops and visits schools. He is an occasional journalist and broadcaster. His brother, Charlie Ross, is the celebrated auctioneer.
In his spare time, Stewart enjoys travel, food, sport, theatre, photography, art and music. He lives near Canterbury with his wife Lucy, and - occasionally - his four children and three grandchildren. Every morning, he commutes 10 metres to work in a large hut in the garden.