In 1914, the European powers were sliding inexorably toward war, drawing the entire Middle East into the vortex of this devastating conflict. In his book, Eugene Rogan presents the history of the First World War, revealing its consequences in the Middle East and the decisive—yet little-known—role the region played. The renowned British historian vividly and captivatingly recounts the political intrigues and military battles that unfolded on Ottoman lands from the Gallipoli Peninsula to Arabia. Unlike the trench warfare on the Western Front, the fighting in the Middle East was dynamic and unpredictable. Before military fortunes turned in the Allied powers' favor, the Turks inflicted crushing defeats on them in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia, and Palestine. The post-war settlement led to the partition of the Ottoman Empire and laid the foundation for the irreconcilable contradictions that continue to rip apart the Arab world today. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the history of World War I and the phenomena of today's Middle East.