From the publisher
A masterpiece of scholarship . . . brings to life the legacy of one of Saudi Arabia's most interesting and influential figures.--Professor Anoush Ehteshami, Durham University
In 1964 Faisal bin Abdul Aziz became king of a country holding a quarter of the world's oil reserves, also home to Mecca and Medina. He was called the most powerful Arab ruler in centuries. Eleven years later, in front of television cameras, his nephew shot him at point-blank range.
In this authoritative biography, Alexei Vassiliev tells the story of a pious, cautious, and resolute leader who steered Saudi Arabia through a minefield of domestic problems, inter-Arab relations and the decline of Soviet influence in the Middle East. King Faisal maintained ties with both Egypt and the United States through two Arab- Israeli wars and the 1973 Arab oil embargo, which revolutionized the world energy market. Throughout, he staked high hopes on cooperation with the United States, a relationship that is still vital to both countries' interests.
Exhaustively researched and including original documents and interviews in Arabic, Russian, and English, King Faisal of Saudi Arabia: Personality, Faith and Times offers a unique perspective of this seminal figure and is key to understanding the Arab world today.
Alexei Vassiliev is a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and director of the Institute for African Studies (RAS). He is the author of over thirty books, including the critically acclaimed The History of Saudi Arabia, winner of the Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award.
About the author
Alexei Vassiliev is a member of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) and Director of the Institute for African Studies (RAS). He is the author of over thirty books, including Russian Policy in the Middle East: from Messianism to Pragmatism, the critically acclaimed The History of Saudi Arabia, winner of the Choice Outstanding Academic Book Award, and Central Asia: Political and Economic Challenges in Post-Soviet Era (both by Saqi Books).
