About the Book

The Husayni family of Jerusalem dominated Palestinian history for 250 years, from the Ottoman times through to the end of the British Mandate. At the height of the familys political influence, positions in Jerusalem could only be obtained through its power base.

In this compelling political biography, Ilan Pappe traces the rise of the Husaynis from a provincial Ottoman elite clan into the leadership of the Palestinian national movement in the twentieth century. In telling their story, Pappe highlights the continuous urban history of Jerusalem and Palestine. Shedding new light on crucial events such as the invasion of Palestine by Napoleon, the decline of the Ottoman Empire, World War I and the advent of Zionism, this remarkable account provides an unforgettable picture of the Palestinian tragedy in its entirety.

About the Author

Ilan Pappe is a renowned Israeli historian. He is a professor of history at the College of Social Sciences and International Studies at the University of Exeter, director of the universitys European Centre for Palestine Studies, and co-director of the Exeter Centre for Ethno-Political Studies. He is the author of The Rise and Fall of a Palestinian Dynasty: The Husaynis, 1700-1948, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, A History of Modern Palestine, The Modern Middle East, and with Noam Chomsky, Gaza in Crisis: Reflections on Israels War Against the Palestinians. He writes for, among others, the Guardian and the London Review of Books. He lives in Exeter.

Reviews

The most eloquent writer of Palestinian history.
New Statesman

An excellent book A first-rate study which throws considerable light not just on the Husayni family but on the history and politics of the Palestinians since the 18th century. The study is a highly original and important contribution to the existing literature.
Avi Shlaim, University of Oxford

This is an original and significant contribution to the literature on the modern political, social and biographical history of Palestine An excellent work.
Salim Tamari, author of Mountain Against the Sea: Essays on Palestinian Society and Culture

Ilan Pappe offers his readers a spellbinding account of the Husayni family and the crucial role they played throughout the modern history of Palestine.
Mahmoud Yazbak, University of Haifa

Ilan Pappe is Israels bravest, most principled, most incisive historian.
John Pilger