Nasser's Blessed Movement
Egypt's Free Officers and the July Revolution
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press Inc
Published:12th Mar '92
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This book examines a key period in the formation of modern Egypt, the early years of military rule following the coup of 1952. The Free Officers Corp, a group of junior officers, overthrew Egypt's parliamentary regime in July 1952 and over the next few years consolidated their rule, brutually supressing alternative political movements. Gamal Abdel Nasser, one of the young officers, emerged as the leader of the military junta and launched an ambitious programme for economic development, making Egypt a leader in Arab, African, and non-aligned politics, as well as a model for political mobilization and national development throughout the Third World. Focusing on the goals, programmes , successes, and failures of the young regime, Gordon provides the most comprehensive account of the Egyptian revolution to date. Besides bringing to light newly opened American and British sources on the period, Gordon's book is also informed by interviews he conducted with a number of actors and observers of the events.
`perceptive and extremely well-researched study, ...Gordon skilfully unravels the complex manoeuvring between the military and civilians during the first two years.' Peter Mansfield, Times Literary Supplement
'well-researched and dispassionate book ... It is good to be reminded, through Gordon's detailed study of this period, how provisional, extempore and contingent the works of politics and history are.' Times Higher Education Supplement
'Gordon provides us with a fascinating account of the Egyptian revolution ... The author has written a copiously documented book and makes sound use of newly declassified American and British archives on the period.' Joseph A. Kechichian, Central Asian Survey, Vol. 11, 1992
'It is this transitional phase of Nasser's rise to power that Gordon sets out to explore with consummate skill and a scrupulous attention to detail. Gordon has ... done an admirable job in fleshing out the internecine struggles unleashed by a revolution that is still within the living memory of many. On this crucial chapter in Egyptian history, Gordon has contributed an intelligent and elegant book, fascinating in the tale it tells and impressive in the breadth of coverage of all the available sources.' Alain Silvera, Bryn Mawr College, International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 26:1
'Based on extensive revisionist primary sources, this book re-examines in great detail the crucial formative years of the military regime in Egypt. The merits of this book lie both in its nuanced accounts of the unexpected process of the Officers' consolidation of power, and in its finer interpretations of some of the events, based on extensive and careful reading of the available sources.' Misako Ikeda, Harvard University British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies
ISBN: 9780195069358
Dimensions: 155mm x 243mm x 23mm
Weight: 612g
272 pages