In 1916, two men agreed to divide the Middle East. Sir Mark Sykes was a visionary politician, while François Georges-Picot was a diplomat burdened with accumulated bitterness. They drew a line in the sand from the Mediterranean to the borders of Persia and together redrew the map of the Middle East, based on the two "Mandates": that of Britain for Palestine, Transjordan, and Iraq, and that of France for Lebanon and Syria.

Over the next thirty years, an outrageous story of violence and secret political maneuvering unfolded, starring a constellation of politicians, diplomats, spies, and military personnel. Utilizing documents recently declassified in British and French archives, James Barr gradually reveals the secret, lethal war of intrigues and espionage between Britain and France for power in the Middle East.

“Based on extensive research and citing revealing sources, Barr exposes all aspects of this unacceptable history.” THE TIMES

“One of the things that is completely unexpected when starting to read this masterful study, and that one realizes with immense surprise, is the extraordinary zeal with which Britons and French sought to undermine each other.” THE SPECTATOR

“The VERY dirty face of foreign policy… This book is literally unputdownable…” INDEPENDENT

“Barr conducted a major investigation into diplomatic archives and unearthed rich material that brings his narrative to life!” FINANCIAL TIMES