Nasser

‘A useful addition to any thinking person’s library.’
New Statesman on The Modern Library of Biography

More than thirty years after his death, Gamal Abd al-Nasser remains one of the Arab world’s towering figures. One of a small group of young officers who overthrew British-backed King Farouk in 1952, Nasser was just 36 years old when he became the undisputed leader of Egypt.

In 1956 he nationalised the Suez Canal, braving the anger of Britain and France. Many in the Arab world still admire his defiance of the colonial powers and his drive to raise living standards by modernising Egpyts economy, but others are more critical of his autocratic rule. This biography explores Nasser’s life in the context of his turbulent times.

ANNE ALEXANDER is a journalist and researcher specialising in the Arab World. She writes for Middle East International and has worked for the BBC World Service.