First published 2026
Simon Sebag Montefiore examines 125 years of Middle Eastern history in this comprehensive survey. The author tracks the region's transformation from the Ottoman sultanate through the Trump presidency, covering territory from Morocco to Iran. Montefiore challenges common historical narratives while highlighting the Middle East's diversity, cosmopolitanism, and interconnected nature. He presents the ideological conflicts and geopolitical struggles that shaped the modern region through portraits of rulers, fighters, writers, extremists, and diplomats. The narrative reveals how religious devotion and extremism coexisted with artistic achievement and acceptance, how authoritarian rule alternated with democratic movements. Montefiore employs his character-driven historical approach to illuminate the forces that created today's Middle East. The book offers readers a complete picture of how the region evolved from 1900 to the present and provides context for understanding contemporary developments.
Genres: biography, history, political-science, world-history, middle-east, current-affairs
Vibes: analytical, character-driven, comprehensive, nuanced, thought-provoking
Tropes: character-portraits, historical-narrative, multi-perspective
Setting: Middle East, Morocco, Iran, Ottoman Empire
Period: 1900-present, 20th-century, 21st-century, Ottoman period
528 pages · Hardcover · Knopf
Content warnings: violence, war